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Hello, my name is Mariam Henríquez. I'm the owner of the company Hen-Vi Patagonia
and we produce specialty clothing for mountain climbing.
Our designs are exclusive
we use special technical materials that are breathable and well-sealed
everything we use is the latest technology.
We have been in this business for 20 years.
We started in Bariloche, Argentina, where we learned how to make...
outdoor clothing, and afterwards...
...we moved to Chile and lived here for 10 years...
...then went back to Bariloche where we improved our skills.
And finally we returned to Chile...
...where we started by making some clothing prototypes...
...in Antuco...
...and now I am here working in Puerto Varas.
What made me start a business in outdoor clothing is that it was what I learned...
... and what I like to do.
I learned together with my husband, and it's a job where we can work
together.
That's one reason...
...I love what I do...
...is that we can do these things together.
Another thing that has motivated us is entering a new niche market
which not everyone has heard of, even though there are many companies that manufacture clothing,
there are very few producers of functional outdoor clothing in Chile.
The main difficulties we have encountered...
...are the lack of resources, because we started with what we had at that point in time...
...and that helps us...
...to keep things going.
But the biggest difficulties have been those...
...the lack of funding.
And now, another hardship...
...has been my husband's illness...
...which was a major difficulty, because...
...after having achieved a successful business...
...we had to start over again from nothing.
My husband currently has a kidney disease...
...and he goes in for dialysis treatment...
...for that 3 times a week for 4 hours.
And that made us lose all that we had been able to save up to now.
It's only thanks to the grace of God that we still have the house
which we were able to save, and that we're starting again.
For me the "PEL" Local Entrepreneurship grant has been a great hope.
It opened the doors to keep going...
...to keep...
moving forward.
One day, a friend of mine mentioned in conversation...
...that she had entered me into the PEL program for women microentrepreneurs...
...and that was my first step forward really...
...because it allowed me to create a sufficient space to work in...
...because at that point I was working in a very small...
...reduced space in the patio...
...of my house.
And now I was recently awarded funding from the government Technical Service agency Sercotec...
...which allowed me to buy a more advanced sewing machine...
...that allows me to do all kinds of embroidery...
...such as corporate logos...
...and also to promote the business so that I can provide other kinds of services...
...as well as a more high-quality product.
You have to fight...
...for what you want...
...for what you desire...
...for what you know how to do...
...and every day do it better.
With a positive attitude, a positive outlook, and...
...with lots of faith in God, because ultimately...
...it's God who opens these doors...
...and who gives intelligence to all of us. So that's why we need...
...to keep going and keep fighting for our goals.
Doing that helps us to lead a full life...
...and not to fall into...
...the resigned Chilean stereotype of saying...
..."oh, the government subsidizes this, it gives me that", but instead understanding...
...that we are the ones who can earn it, and keep giving back to others.
CORFO - Government of Chile