Monday, February 2, 2009

Ruth’s sewing machine


www.acceder.com
ACCEDER Hebrew Free Loan
By Nicole Grouman

Ruth has a seamstress shop in Chacarita, a neighborhood located in Buenos Aires. This middle age single mother never let her difficult situation get to her. She has two adolescent children that she speaks of with immense delight.
She says she has to deal with many economic complications and that the father of her kids doesn’t give her enough money to support them. I opened a shop in august to earn more money and also to manage mi time so I could be more with my kids, she says with a luminescent smile. So, I rented this place and started fixing clothes.
Ruth also has a BA in education from the University of Jerusalem. She got divorced 9 years ago. She used to work as a teacher in a Jewish school and eventually she was promoted to director.
Even though my business expanded, I still don’t make enough to pay for all my expenses because my ex husband only gives me 180 pesos a month. I’m accumulating debts because of this. She also adds to our engaging interview a list of her monthly obligations that is clearly overwhelming for a single person.
I’m trying to add new things to my shop so I can increase my income and improve my current situation. She looks straight into the camera and shows us her new creations, bags manufactured from recycled materials and clothes she designed.
She gently picks up from the makeshift mannequin that is placed next to window a pair of cardigan pants and a trendy zipper jacket. The clothes have her trademark embroidered and a lighthearted pattern to go along. I started designing my own brand of clothing, it’s called Ruth Ber.
I contacted Acceder after I spoke to the Rabbi of my delicate financial situation and his wife told me of the interest free loans. It took me less than 20 days to get the loan. I had two friends that were my guarantors.
I used the loan from Acceder to buy the cloth to manufacture 100 bags and I also bought that sewing overlock machine that can use various threads at once and make special designs. This credit helped me a lot and the first few months I was able to make more money because of it. They were very comprehensive of my situation.
The credit totaled 1,600 dollars. This machine cost me $330 and I spent $100 to make the bags. I used the rest of the money to buy supplies for my shop. In February, I will finish paying the installments of the loan.
I have a monthly deficit of 200 dollars which implies cutting back on my spending. I can’t buy more supplies for my shop and I’m behind in my apartment expenses. On some occasions, I even have to borrow from friends. Nevertheless, my situation encouraged me to stand taller.
In the future, I hope that my business grows. If had more to invest, I could buy more goods to sell, she says as she gazes with her light transparent eyes through the big window of her shop.

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