If you walk down the vibrant and bustling favela of Rio das Pedras, Rio de Janeiro, you would often hear children burst into laughter from a small arts and crafts workshop. Inside, 31-year-old art teacher and handcraft artist Rosana Santiago is shaping colorful materials into beautiful handmade toys with the children. Just a moment ago, she crafted a lovely gift card featuring stars shining in the galaxy — every piece she creates carries a part of her story and her dreams.
Rosana’s journey toward building her own business wasn’t easy. After working in a local stationery store, she wanted to have a bigger creative space to bring her own visions to life. With courage and determination, she left her previous job and founded "Papelaria Personalizada," a business that reflects her unique artistic identity. Beyond creating one-of-a-kind crafts, Rosana also shares her passion by hosting handmade toy workshops for children to give back to her community.
But like many women entrepreneurs in Brazil, Rosana faces social barriers and financial constraints that make it difficult to grow her business. According to a report published by UNDP, startups founded by women receive less than 12% of all venture capital investments in Brazil. Moreover, businesses owned by Black women are smaller and have a lower rate of formalization. Limited educational opportunities and social inequality create additional obstacles.
Despite these hardships, women like Rosana continue to push forward, driven by resilience and a desire to create better futures for their families and communities. With access to microloans and financial support, Rosana will be able to automate her work with a paper machine, enabling her to increase production and serve more clients. This investment will help her further expand her business and uplift her community. As Rosana shares,
"I believe my own business — Papelaria Personalizada — is not only my job, but it also reflects my dream, self-esteem, and personal fulfillment"
This International Women's Day, Bridging Gaps is committed to accelerating action by sharing Rosana's story and advocating for increased support for women entrepreneurs. By sharing her journey, we hope to inspire a collective effort to break down barriers and create more opportunities for women entrepreneurs, starting with Rosana.
Join us in supporting Rosana and countless other women striving for economic empowerment. Together, we can accelerate action and create a world where every woman has the opportunity to succeed.
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