Karla’s Jewelry Journey in Roatán

On a bustling main street in Coxen Hole on the island of Roatán, where scooters and shopkeepers calling to customers fight for attention on the sea breeze, you’ll often spot a small folding table in front of a busy pharmacy. Behind it is 47-year-old Karla Azucena Ordoñez Rodríguez, skillfully arranging bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, some of which are purchased from San Pedro Sula, others crafted by her.

Karla is a wife, a mom and a jeweler. Karla is also a beneficiary of Adelante’s newest loan territory thanks to the support of local sponsors, donors, and a global grant from The Rotary Foundation. Karla has used her $400 loan to invest into her business, buying finished jewelry to resell and supplies to create unique, handmade designs. The combination allows her to offer customers both variety and originality, meeting different tastes and budgets.

Her business is mobile as well as local. While her main spot in front of a pharmacy on Willie Warren Street ensures steady foot traffic, she also visits clients elsewhere on the island to make sales. That kind of visibility has made her something of a familiar face in Roatán. In fact, when we met a woman on the other side of the island and mentioned Karla’s name, the woman smiled in recognition: “Oh, I know who Karla is, she’s out there in front of the pharmacy, every single day, selling her jewelry.”

For Karla, this loan is a hand up not (versus a hand out.) With her entrepreneurial drive and the stability that comes from having reliable working capital, she is growing her customer base and strengthening her reputation for quality pieces. In a place where opportunities can be scarce and seasonal, Karla has carved out a consistent presence. With every sale, she’s building a business and a future she can call her own.