Leaving the Sweatshop

Juan Garcia Hernadez, two of his brothers, and a friend worked for a clothing company in the Dominican Republic. The company established its production plant there instead of in the US because they could pay lower wages. In addition, they did not have to provide insurance or the safety features required by US law.

Juan and his friends refused to settle for sweatshop work and treated the company like a school. They would learn to be excellent tailors while saving every peso they could to open their own business.

Finally they had enough money to buy several sewing machines and rent a small shed with a tin roof. The move took all of their savings and their courage as well. If they could not make a living, their families would suffer great deprivation. They marketed their product aggressively, driven by the prospect of hungry children. Soon, they were producing 200 to 300 pairs of jeans a week. They sold all they made. Still, the profit margin was slim. One unexpected expense could demolish all they had worked for.

*A small loan makes all the difference*

If they could purchase fabric wholesale, they could make a better profit and feel more secure. But every bank they approached said they were too poor to apply for a loan. When Juan heard about Opportunity International’s loan program, he knew their problem was solved. Their first loan was small, just $360, but it made the difference between a struggling business and a growing enterprise.

Juan does the advertising and marketing while his three partners work the sewing machines. To prepare the business for further growth, he took a business administration course given by the Opportunity program as a free service to its clients.