Espoir 17
Marcela is one of the women supported by Espoir. She participated in a group loan from the Ecuadorian NGO and started a sewing workshop and a pig farm. Thanks to the loan, she now earns her own income and is financially independent.
The project
Marcela runs her own sewing workshop and pig farm. Where she once depended financially on her partner, she now earns her own income. This has strengthened both her self-reliance and her confidence.
This step was made possible by Espoir, an NGO that provides microfinance to women in Ecuador. Many of the women they work with are single mothers and the main providers for their families. Because they often work in the informal sector, they do not build a credit history. As a result, accessing a bank loan is usually not an option.
Espoir offers an alternative through group loans. The participants are jointly responsible for repayment and guarantee each other’s loans. This reduces the risk of late payments and strengthens their mutual trust.
With this approach, women gain access to financing and training to start or grow a business. Step by step, they build a stable income and greater economic independence.
Will you contribute to financial security for women entrepreneurs in Ecuador?
Your investment
- Annual interest rate: 8%
- With an investment of €1,000, the expected total repayment is approximately €1,070
- Maturity: 18 months
- Repayments: quarterly. You will receive a repayment, including interest, every 3 months. Meaning there will be 6 repayments in total.
- Currency: dollar. Please note that although you invest in euros, the loan is in dollars, so there is a risk of exchange rate fluctuations between dollars and euros. Visit our page on exchange rate risks for more information.
Espoir
Impact
In Ecuador, where Espoir operates, access to financing is a lifeline, especially in rural areas, where poverty affects nearly half the population and extreme poverty is alarmingly high. While financial hardship exists nationwide, rural entrepreneurs face even greater barriers to securing capital. Women, who make up the majority of Espoir’s borrowers, often have the hardest time accessing resources to grow their businesses. That’s why Espoir goes beyond microcredit, combining financial support with business education and health services across six provinces. By equipping low-income entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed, Espoir fosters long-term economic resilience and stronger communities.
- Percentage of female borrowers: 72%
- 94% of Espoir's borrowers say their quality of life improved in at least one way. Source: Survey conducted by 60dB.
Related blog posts
Discover more - Log in or create an account
To protect our partners, certain information is only available when you are logged in. Log in, or create a free account if you are new to Lendahand!