Johanna Suzana Arroliga

Johanna with her cosmetics and new display case

Johanna is an El Sauce native who grew up with her grandparents. She recalls that her childhood was difficult because her grandparents were very poor but, because she was determined to continue her studies, she finished her high school education. After high school, Johanna married and had two children, who she is happy to be seeing through school. She is especially proud that her oldest daughter, Junieth, is studying at university, something Johanna herself was never able to do.

When she first had her children, Johanna’s mother-in-law helped her start a business selling clothes, and she has since been selling clothes and other goods for 20 years. For ten of these years, Johanna also began to buy and sell gold, but now the market for gold is too expensive to invest in. Today, in addition to selling clothes, she also sells cosmetics from Avon, Victoria’s Secret, and Oriflame. Because these brands are high quality, they are in high demand and her business has been doing well.

Because some of the products from these brands can be expensive, Johanna applied for a U$200 loan from Enlace to replenish her supply of lotions, perfumes, and makeup. She says the most important thing she learned in her business training from Enlace was to save money. With the money she was able to save since receiving her loan, Johanna was able to purchase a small stand to display her products in her home. 

--Written by Jessica Kroenert and Cameron Houser