Branyelis made a difficult decision to leave her country Venezuela at the end of 2022, seeking a better future for her two children. The economic crisis, lack of medical care and deficiencies in the education system were key factors in her decision to emigrate. They lived for a few years in Colombia until they ran out of work and decided to embark on a journey to Peru but finally settled in Ecuador. Upon her arrival in the country in 2024, she faced major obstacles: the Public Health Center was unable to treat her son Brandon’s dermatological problem due to a lack of supplies, and because of the delay in school enrollment, she was forced to support him at home with online materials and borrowed resources.
Despite everything, Branyelis has not lost hope. Thanks to her talent in baking, she began selling gelatins, cheesecakes and other desserts, generating income for her family. However, her venture was limited by the lack of basic utensils and equipment, which she borrows from her neighbor.
During this year, Branyelis participated in the Saturday entrepreneurship trainings, where the possibility to apply was opened and she, with a well elaborated project won second place in a local “Shark Tank Pan de Vida”, which allowed her to obtain a kitchen, a refrigerator and the necessary raw materials to move forward. This achievement has given her a great opportunity to expand her business. Not only has Pan de Vida helped her with her business, Branyelis and her family have participated in our Christmas programs, received medical care, school supplies and our Bible schools.
Despite the obstacles, she has managed to build a small business that has given her some stability. Supporting her venture will not only strengthen her business but will also be a step towards improving her and her family’s quality of life.
