Hope in desperate times
Milena del Carmen Gutierrez
NICARAGUA 2021
Milena del Carmen Gutierrez is 34 years old and has 3 small children. The family's livelihood was dependent on her husband's stone-loading work in the quarry. However, the work is poorly paid and with irregular work shifts, which means that sometimes they cannot meet basic living needs.
Milena entered the sewing course at Vega Baja Education Centre with a desire to learn how to make clothes and various household items and be able to provide another source of income for her family. She also became an active member of the Vega Baja Sewing Workshop where she learnt to sew and sell face masks. This greatly assisted her family, enabling them to be able to buy basic food for everyday living.
Milena's confidence increased and she learnt to sew household items, such as curtains, bed covers, sheets and bags, and she now sells these in her community.
“I am very grateful to the Vega Baja not only for the quality of education and the personal treatment that we receive from them but also because they are giving us an opportunity to generate an income at a time of great need for our families.”