Giving Back a Slice of Time: A Mission Sparked by Stunning Photographs
In the spring of 2013, Ben Sherman, an unassuming yet vibrant photographer traveling to capture culture throughout the world, came to Honduras to meet the inspiring women entrepreneurs of Adelante. He gifted the photographs of the entrepreneurs to our team, allowing us to share their beauty with the world. I decided to follow up with these women and give them the printouts of these mementos that so poetically capture their spirit in time. We took a picture within a picture to give back this slice of time, and see the changes they have made in their lives since.
Evarista has never had a printed out photo of herself until now, and is delighted to have this copy of her hard at work on her outdoor stove. She has been running her tortilla business with the help of Adelante loans for over 8 years, expanding her products to include tamales, breads, and cakes to order. In November 2013, Evarista took out a Home Improvement loan for $454 to put in a real bathroom for her family to enjoy. Since her husband is no longer able to work, she is thankful to bring in a steady income. “Having a business has been a blessing. I feel good doing my work today, and with my savings I don’t have to worry about tomorrow.”
Margarita has been with Adelante now for 15 years, since we disbursed our very first loans in her coastal village in 2000. She used her first loan to invest in fish, shrimp, and other seafood to sell in her neighborhood. She then began selling to the farmers in nearby banana fields. One day she brought a batch of her special coconut bread to sell, and the irresistible rolls sold out instantly. Since she has expanded her coconut bread sales, using the recipe passed down from her grandmother that she learned as a child.“I am proud to have turned our tradition into a real business,” says Margarita. Today at 56, she is passing down her Garifuna traditions to her own grandchildren, including the secret family recipe.
Maria has had to fight on her own since she was widowed 12 years ago. She has always enjoyed making tamales, and 8 years ago joined Adelante to turn her cooking skills into a business. In 2014 she took out a loan to begin selling clothing as well, and now runs both businesses from her home. Maria never learned to read or write, but she made sure all of her children got a proper education. She has enjoyed Adelante’s education program as well. “I didn’t get to go school as a child, but now I have a new education. I’ve learned how to move forward with my business.” She was thrilled to receive this photo. “I cannot wait to frame this!” she said, right before giving us a giant container of nance fruits from her tree.
Over the course of their time with Adelante these entrepreneurs have fought to build businesses to improve their lives and those of their families. Now they have these stunning portraits to remind them of their strength, their hard work, and their triumph.
Many thanks to Ben Sherman for these incredible pieces and more featured on our Adelante website. To see more of his work, visit benshermanphoto.com.
