At 70 years old, María Esther Chalacamá walks with the strength of someone who has cultivated more than just land, she has sown life, resilience, and dignity. Born in Guachucal, Nariño, Colombia, violence, silent and devastating, forced her as a child to relocate to Caquetá. Orphaned by both her mother and father, she was given away, yet life brought her back to her birthplace in Guachucal, where she found the strength to start over and put down new roots.

Living on a modest two-hectare plot, María Esther transformed rough, overgrown terrain into fertile and vibrant farmland. There, she grows potatoes, onions, corn or “whatever you plant,” she says with a calm smile. Today, that land is home to guinea pigs, chickens, cows, and a breeding sow. But more than anything, it is the space where she has rebuilt her life.

Widowed for over 20 years, her husband was also a victim of the conflict in Caquetá. She raised her three daughters, who now live in different parts of the country. She is fortunate if she sees them once a year. Today, she shares her home with her grandson, a child with cognitive difficulties, who helps her with daily farm work. “I work for him,” she says firmly.

A woman who never gives up

Despite her losses, María Esther has never allowed herself to be a burden to anyone. “I’m motivated by the desire to give my grandchildren a better future,” she says, with the dignity that only women who have labored with hands in the soil and hearts full of love can express. In this lifelong struggle, she found an unwavering ally in Banco Contactar.

“I am very grateful to the Bank. They’ve given me their support, never closed their doors to me. Sometimes I’ve had two or three loans at the same time, but they always trusted me,” she explains. Her relationship with the Bank began in 2016 with a loan of USD 870, which she used to purchase livestock, improve her land, and gradually build her home. When she first arrived, she didn’t even have a bed, blankets, or a proper roof. Today, she has a stable home with access to water, electricity, and a road that connects her life with that of her neighbors.

Over the past nine loan cycles, she has received a total of approximately USD 5.640, each helping her expand her small farm, increase productivity, and improve her living conditions. “Everything I’ve received, I’ve invested right here. Thanks to the Bank and the people who trusted me. They’re exceptional,” she affirms.

Building a sustainable rural business

With the support of Banco Contactar, María Esther’s small farm has grown into a diversified activity that sustains her and her family. On her two-hectare land, she cultivates potatoes, onions, and corn, and raises guinea pigs, chickens, and cows. Each loan helped her strengthen her farm step by step — improving soil quality, increasing her production, and caring for her animals.

Her work not only ensures food for her household but also allows her to sell part of her produce locally, contributing to the community’s food supply. Through her perseverance, she exemplifies how rural women entrepreneurs generate economic and social value. Her activity also aligns with broader sustainable development goals such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

A future rooted in dreams

To those who know her, María Esther is far more than a model client; she is a living symbol of resilience and hope. Her story powerfully illustrates how access to opportunity can transform lives, and how placing trust in small-scale farmers and rural women can open doors to a future filled with new possibilities.

Driven by a deep commitment to secure a better future for her grandson, María Esther hopes to expand her agricultural activity and, with a heart full of dreams, aspires to pass on the land she has nurtured with dedication and hard work.

A message that comes straight from the heart

Today, María Esther enthusiastically recommends Banco Contactar to anyone still unsure: “The service is excellent, the people are kind, they’re always willing to listen, and thanks to the loans, you can work.” Her voice carries authority, not from titles, but from lived experience, from someone who has made work her mission and the land her refuge.

“Trust is the foundation for growth — and María Esther demonstrates this through her daily commitment and perseverance.”

Thanks to investor funding, institutions like Banco Contactar can continue empowering rural entrepreneurs like María Esther to build resilience and sow hope for future generations.