In the first minute of my conversation with Maria I could sense that she had a tremendous enthusiasm for life and was focused on helping other people. Both traits will undoubtedly be advantageous when she graduates in December with a degree in nursing.
Meet Maria de los Angeles Noguera from Carapeguá, Paraguay.
Maria de los Angeles Noguera will graduate in December 2010 with a degree in nursing
Along with going to school Maria is also the owner of her own perfume business she started 3 years ago. She sells her perfume utilizing her network of friends, classmates, and family. She sources her product from Mercado Cuatro – one of the most famous markets in Paraguay – which is a 2.5 hour bus ride to Asunción. She provides samples to her customers so they purchase the right scent for them.
She currently lives with her parents and her brother, who is in his second year of studying accounting. Her parents raised her with a strong set of values and determination. Her mom recently demonstrated that determination by returning to high school to graduate with the full support of her family. Maria explains that values are important in order to be successful; ¨You need to be humble and sensitive to other people. I learned that at home, then practiced at school and now with my work.¨
After graduating she wants to help people in need, both professionally and personally, as a nurse. In addition, she will utilize her nursing skills to help her parents live a healthy life along with supporting them financially.
Maria is extremely inquisitive and asked several questions about Vittana. She was concerned that the student loan was a short-term promotion and would not be available for other students including her brother. I explained that Vittana was approaching funding $300,000 of student loans (check to see the current Vittana loan volume) along with expanding in Paraguay and globally. She was happy because student loans will be still be available to her brother, friends, and other people throughout the world. She commented about how important the student loan is because many people have the intelligence and the motivation but simply lack the financial resources to graduate. She talked about how student loans are a big step forward for Paraguay and for South America.
Her family´s education story is common to many people in Paraguay. Paraguay is the second poorest country in South America next to Bolivia with $2,365 USD per capita according to the World Bank in 2009. Maria is the first person in her family to attend college. In Paraguay, less than 1% of women finish college.
Fundación Paraguaya office in Carapeguá, Paraguay where Maria received her loan
Her parents were unable to go to college because they lacked money – the same reason that she was almost unable to finish her studies until she found Vittana. She understand this irony and is grateful for the opportunity that the student loan has provided.
With the help of Vittana (one of the first microfinance institutions in the world to provide student loans) and Fundación Paraguaya (the first NGO in Paraguay and the first Vittana partner) Maria is rapidly approaching her graduation and her new career in nursing.
If you want to lend to students like Maria, click here.
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