I have faced many challenges, but I’ve never given up. Every step forward brought me closer to my goal: to give my children a better life.
Gladys, 46, hails from the rural community of Prolongación Miguel de Cervantes in Cajamarca, Peru. She is the mother of three children: a 23-year-old son and two daughters aged 18 and 9. While studying, Gladys had to raise her children on her own as her husband was struggling with alcoholism. She could not afford the luxury of giving up. Her son, a pillar in her life, worked to help her provide for their family. He was her source of strength, standing by her side through every challenge.
To make ends meet, Gladys juggled multiple jobs, as as house cleaner and laundry worker. There were times when she felt completely discouraged – when they all had to skip meals or when she could not afford to buy her children new clothes. But one day, the Good Shepherd sisters opened their doors to her.
For the first time, Gladys shared her story. She opened up in a way she had never before. Expressing her fears, concerns, and struggles felt liberating. With the support of a psychologist, she overcame self-doubt and rebuilt her self-worth, step by step. Beyond emotional support, Gladys was also introduced to baking and entrepreneurship. She received training, tools, and resources to help her start a small pastry business.
“I was so grateful. The sisters helped me with everything. They gave me the ingredients when I couldn’t afford them, and they taught me how to make cakes, how to run a business, and how to handle products, packaging and cleaning.”
The first cakes Gladys baked didn’t turn out very well: many came out too thick or didn’t rise properly. But Gladys didn’t give up. She came to class at the center two or three times a week, even when she was exhausted from work. She persevered, learning from her mistakes, and improving with each batch. “When I made my first orange cake, it collapsed, and I thought, ‘I’m not going to stop here.’ I kept going. I made vanilla cakes, pineapple cakes, and then started selling them at the local market.”
Today, she has her own booth at the Modelo Market – booth number 21 – and is known for her delicious blueberry and carrots cakes. But she also makes mango, banana, prickly pear and aguaymanto cakes, along with a variety of other treats. Together with the Good Shepherd sisters, she participates in local fairs to showcase her products and reach new costumers. She has even started marketing her products on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. Her flourishing business enables her to sustain her family, maintain her home and invest in her children’s education and future.
For Gladys, having her own booth at the local market and baking pastries she never imagined she could make is a dream come true and a constant source of joy:
I love making cakes. It brings me so much joy to know that people will enjoy them. I put my heart into every cake I create. When someone tells me my cake is delicious, it fills me with pride and happiness. And I know that I’m doing something right.
