Lucy Herrera, a resilient mother from the La Candelaria neighborhood of Colombia, has faced a lifetime of challenges, but she never lost sight of her dreams. As a single mother of four, Lucy aspired to become a pharmacist. With determination, she pursued her goal by studying at SENA, a free state school in Cartagena, where she learned how to create cleaning and beauty products. Armed with this knowledge, Lucy started her own small business, producing and selling perfumes, hair creams, and she developed her own take on Vick’s Vaporub. Her products quickly gained popularity, providing much-needed income and improving her family’s quality of life.

However, Lucy’s journey was far from easy. When her eldest child relapsed with leukemia and later contracted COVID-19, her business suffered as her caregiving responsibilities grew. The pandemic further limited her access to supplies, threatening the future of her business. Despite these setbacks, Lucy refused to give up. With the support of the Ultra-Poverty Graduation Program, she learned to develop a business plan and made strategic investments to reach her goals.

Today, Lucy’s business is the main source of income for her household, offering food security and economic stability. Her store, Four Corners, operates from the second room of her home, where she sells products in quantities her customers can afford, upcycling bottles to keep costs down. Lucy’s resourcefulness and hard work have made her store a vital part of the community, inspiring others to persevere in the face of adversity.

Thanks to her dedication, Lucy is providing her family with the opportunity for better outcomes. Her smile is a testament to the hope and strength that drive her every day.