Fundación Bien-Estar has been making a positive impact in communities in Ecuador since 2005, by providing financial education and social programmes that empower vulnerable populations. Their mission is to meet the needs of young people and foster social investment, aiming to improve financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills for individuals of all ages.
The organisation offers financial education to children, adolescents, adults, and seniors, drawing from globally recognised frameworks like Aflatoun International’s curricula on social and financial entrepreneurship. Bien-Estar’s team is continually trained to stay updated on best practices, and their efforts align with Ecuador’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, which prioritises women.
One of the organisation’s standout initiatives is the “Mejora tu Emprendimiento” competition, aimed at empowering women heads of households in vulnerable situations. The programme offers 20 hours of training on personal finance, budgeting, business planning, and more. Seed capital is awarded to the top business plans, helping participants boost their enterprises. The programme has shown impressive results, such as improved knowledge of profit margins and confidence in financial decisions. These improvements demonstrate the programme’s positive effect on participants’ financial literacy and decision-making, empowering women entrepreneurs to strengthen their businesses and improve their families’ well-being.
Our Partnership
Fundación Bien-Estar joined the Aflatoun’s partners network in 2019 and have been implementing the AflaToun and AflaYouth curricula since then to expand the reach of social and financial education programmes, with a focus on entrepreneurship for women and communities across the country.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Evelyn Ponce shares her testimonial of the “Mejora tu Emprendimiento” Competition
Evelyn Ponce, a talented artisan specialising in handmade products and hand-woven textiles, was one of the winners of the first edition of the “Mejora tu Emprendimiento”. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of financial education and support for women entrepreneurs in Ecuador.
Before participating in the competition, Evelyn faced significant challenges in managing her personal and business finances. She had little understanding of how to distribute her income effectively or how to set appropriate prices for her products. Through the training provided by the programme, she learned valuable skills such as how to allocate a budget when purchasing materials and how to avoid overspending. This knowledge helped her gain better control over her production process and finances.
One of the key takeaways for Evelyn was understanding how to calculate her profit margin and improve her business’s sustainability.
The programme also helped Evelyn realise the true value of her work as an artisan. She learned to better manage her time, determine the cost of her labour, and most importantly, recognise her worth. This newfound understanding not only improved her income but also boosted her confidence as a business owner.
Winning the “Mejora tu Emprendimiento” competition had an additional unexpected benefit. After sharing her achievement on social media, Evelyn’s local government, the ‘GAD parroquial,’ took notice of her business. This led to opportunities to represent her parish at events across Ecuador, further expanding her reach. She even had the chance to send her products to international markets, including Switzerland and the United States—accomplishments she once thought were out of reach.
Evelyn is deeply grateful for the lessons she has learned and the connections she has made through the financial education programme. The support from Mutualista Pichincha / Fundación Bien-Estar has been invaluable in helping her grow her business. Today, she continues to apply the advice and strategies she learned, and her work as an artisan remains as strong as ever.
Her journey highlights the lasting impact of financial education and mentorship in empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive.
