Yerlin Rafaela

Yerlin Rafaela Espinoza is a 28-year-old beautician in El Sauce. She was born in El Sauce and was raised by her stepfather and grandfather; she never met her biological father, and has a distant relationship with her mother. Growing up without a mom has been her greatest challenge in life; she missed the support a mother would give. She has lived here her entire life, excepting the time she spent in Chinandega studying. She graduated from El Sauce’s high school, and then moved to graduate from a technical college with a degree in beauty. She has been with her husband for 11 years. He is her great inspiration; she admires how hard he works as a doctor and a lawyer, and how he provides for his family. She is the mother of two beautiful girls and an adorable little boy, who are her pride and joy.

Yerlin takes great pride in her work, and aims to leave every customer satisfied. At her beauty shop she dyes, cuts, and styles hair, as well as giving manicures and pedicures. She began learning her profession when she was 17 in her home with just a mirror and a chair. When Yerlin was in school, she worked in her husband’s pharmacy and selling clothing to support herself. She opened her shop three years ago, and it’s been growing ever since.

Using her loan from Enlace, Yerlin was able to buy better products and supplies for her studio, including professional hair dyes, which have enabled her to do a better job and thus increase her prices. She chose to work with Enlace as opposed to a bank because she wanted to work with professionals. With her extra profits and the bookkeeping strategies she’s gained from working with Enlace, Yerlin has been able to invest in her business and buy her children Christmas gifts. She hopes that in five years time her studio will be the biggest beauty parlor in El Sauce.