Small Business Boomers

Mildred Hidalgo: An Accion Story

by Jean on June 20th, 2008

Mildred Eufemia Hidalgo “Colegio Infantil” (Kindergarten)
San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Client of ACCION Partner Banco Ademi

For the past three years, Mildred Eufemia Hidalgo has been running a preschool, Colegio Infantil, in her barrio in the city of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. Though most of the elements that make up her business are small—little children, short lessons, tiny furniture—they quickly add up to important work and big results.

Before she opened Colegio Infantil, Mildred was traveling outside of her barrio to teach in preschools in other neighborhoods. “Imagine,” she remarks, “I was always working outside of my neighborhood, far from my home. Then I realized that if I had to leave home to teach, there must also be students who had to leave the neighborhood to learn.” So she borrowed money from her husband, a member of the military, and opened her own preschool, nestled in the heart of her quiet neighborhood of low-income families tucked tightly along the Yuvaso River.

Clearly, Mildred’s instincts for the need for a preschool in the barrio were correct—the school currently has 110 students between the ages of two and six enrolled in its morning and afternoon sessions. Mildred and the five other teachers she employs fill the children’s days with stories, numbers, songs and play. But recently, “our learning environment needed an upgrade to keep up with our students and teachers,” admits Mildred.

Mildred first wanted to buy chairs for the school and found that they were very expensive. She sought out ACCION partner microfinance institution, Banco Ademi, and secured a first loan of 2500 pesos (approx. US$ 75). With the loan, she purchased enough child-sized plastic chairs for each of the school’s three classrooms. She also purchased paints with which to cover the walls with inviting and educational pictures and lessons.

With her next Banco Ademi microloan, Mildred plans to begin remodeling the school, expanding it to the second floor of the building—allowing her to teach more of the neighborhood’s children and employ more of her neighbors.

Though her first loan is small, it is supporting a big dream, and clearly Mildred is not the only beneficiary. The 110 children that flock to Colegio Infantil may not know it yet, but microfinance is also helping them to be engaged and happy students.

This post is part of the b5media Business Channel Great Blog Off! Find out more about the Blog Off here: http://www.b5media.com/b5media-blogs-for-a-cause-and-raises-money-in-support-of-charity/

The Business Channel is supporting Accion International for the Great Blog Off. You can make a donation directly to Accion (http://www.accion.org/b5media). Donations are tax deductible.

Photo courtesy Accion International

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