No Longer Fearful for My Family's Future

Jessica lives with her husband and four adult sons and their families in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Their run down apartment has witnessed the story of a well off family that has become humbled due to the country's economic crisis.

When Jessica's sons were small, she and her husband owned a restaurant and a stationery store. They lived comfortably, attended a Jewish Community Center on the weekends, and sent their children to private schools. When they were forced to close their businesses, Jessica became extremely depressed and for months could not leave her home. One of her daughters-in-law finally convinced her to go to her local synagogue and ask for help. The synagogue not only comforted her, but also told her about the JDC-supported Ariel Job Center and advised her to there to look for a job.

Shortly after consulting the Ariel Job Center, Jessica was asked to attend a seminar on thermoforming that would allow her to start her own plastic container manufacturing business. Jessica attended the seminar with one of her sons, Luis (click here to read his story), and devoted herself to her studies. As a reward for her commitment to the seminar, Jessica received a thermoforming machine from the Ariel Job Center that will allow her to set up a new business of producing plastic containers. She plans to make containers for beauty products as she is a trained cosmetologist and has prior experience in this field. The donation of the equipment was essential for Jessica as she would not have been able to afford it otherwise.

Since receiving the equipment, Jessica and Luis have converted part of their apartment to accommodate the machinery and the other necessary objects for the business. Jessica credits the seminar for bringing her "back to life". Initially it just helped her to get out of her house and be in touch with people again, but now it has become a source of income as well.

Jessica is no longer fearful for her family's future. She is working again and has hope that life will get better.