Viviana's story
Viviana lives in the city of El Alto, Bolivia, along with her three children. As a little girl, she learnt how to bake. However, she had forgotten the joy of creating tasty treats and sharing them with loved ones.
This was because Viviana carried a difficult secret: that she was being sexually exploited and couldn't see a way out.
For over two years she was trapped in exploitation.
Then during a visit to her local health clinic, she received an invitation to our partner's centre, The House of Hope. Little did she know that when she came to visit the centre her life was about to change.
With gentle care and support, Viviana began to slowly heal from her trauma. She rediscovered her worth. Hope blossomed in her heart.
Her past is not something Viviana talks about often. It's hard for her to revisit the dark place she was in. But one thing she has learnt is that the darkness of her past does not define her future.
During a baking class at the House of Hope, Viviana's memories came flooding back and she remembered how much she adored baking. Her passion was reignited and soon ideas and dreams started forming.
Viviana's plan was to set up a baking business and spread a little bit of joy in her community through her food. Thanks to supporters like you, we backed Viviana's plans, and with a Spark loan, she was able to buy the equipment she needed to get started.
