Though Ana Cipriano de Sevedia’s education was cut short at the age of 15 because there were no local high schools in her rural Paraguayan community, her love of learning remained. And she’s working hard to create a different outcome for her three sons. “My dream is that they study [at university], that they become someone in life,” she shares. “I work so hard [for this].”
Within one year of discovering Diaconía, HOPE’s partner in Paraguay, Ana had participated in several free trainings, learning to crochet, decorate shoes, and design thermoses, which are local staples for toting tereré, a popular iced tea. She considers these trainings a privilege: “I’ve learned many things there—that I can do and sell.” Additionally, she’s accessed three small loans to expand her general store and ice cream and popsicle shop. 
Ana’s three teenage boys help her run the shop, and as she acquires new skills, she’s passing them on “so that when I’m no longer with them, they’ll be able to manage on their own.” Ana recently received her manicure certificate, and she hopes to train her son to run a salon. Furthermore, she’s begun taking night classes so she can receive her degree and teach others. But her first priority is passing on a legacy to her children:
“They will be able to learn … from me. They will have a business inheritance.”
Through Diaconía, Ana has also begun to save, noting it’s the first time she has had access to a safe place to do so. Diaconía’s trainings have also encouraged Ana to think about how she can apply her faith to her business. Motivated by the biblical mandate to love your neighbor as yourself, Ana gives items from her store to women in need. “I don’t have a lot to give, but I like to give to everyone. And if I can, I’ll help,” she says. Ana’s sons will, indeed, have a rich inheritance from her generosity, perseverance, dedication, and love.
You can invest in the dreams of families like Ana’s around the world! When you become a Dream Investor, your commitment to an ongoing, monthly gift to HOPE is an act of tenacious generosity and demonstrates your dedication to unlocking the God-given potential of men and women living in poverty. Join our growing monthly giving community today!
