When Alicia first heard about a business program coming to her small community in Yucatán, Mexico, she was skeptical. To support her husband, Felipe, and their young daughter, Alicia was selling ice and popsicles from their home. It was barely enough to get by, but she felt she had more to offer.
Everything changed during her first mentoring session with Mentors International. When her mentor asked, “What else do you know how to do?” and “What would you like to do?” Alicia thought of her sewing skills. She knew how to mend and create, but she had never viewed those skills as a pathway to financial independence.
Through personalized mentoring and business training, Alicia and Felipe began a new chapter. They started keeping strict financial records, learning to track every peso. This newfound discipline allowed them to do something they hadn’t done before: save with a purpose. By applying these principles, Alicia saved enough to purchase her first sewing machine. Before her training, she repaired clothes by hand for a handful of neighbors. Today, she has more than doubled her client base. With her machine, she creates high-quality garments for children and adults, providing a “professional finish” she never thought possible while working from her kitchen table.
The couple is now dreaming even bigger: Felipe is saving for tools to work their family land, and Alicia is planning to purchase a second sewing machine to grow her business further. Together, they are building a future based on the things they love to do.
