4A

Gracias.

El mundo está mal, no porque los malos sean malos, sino por la indiferencia y apatía de los buenos.

Mi experiencia y mi aventura en el emprendimiento social comienza cuando tenía 19 años, vendiendo galletitas en los pasillos de mi universidad. Iba con un paquete diario de esas que venden en el Costco, de chispas de chocolate buenísimas. Pero no solo estaba vendiendo galletas, sino que también estaba dándoles asesorías a niños de secundaria que han estado vendiendo boletos de conciertos. También estaba organizando eventos y le ayudaba a una amiga con su negocio de comida, y me daba cierta comisión.

Yo estaba haciendo todo esto porque quería recaudar dinero para irme de misiones y de voluntaria a diferentes partes de México. Es algo que me encanta y que, desde que tengo memoria —desde que tengo 9 años— me he estado yendo. Pero al mismo tiempo estaba estudiando, entonces me estaba volviendo loca con todo esto, no me estaba concentrando, y decidí hacer una sola cosa que me dejara dinero y no muchas donde me distrajera.

Así fue como empecé mi negocio. Es una marca de ropa, de sudaderas y blusas. Claro que al inicio no sabía absolutamente nada de esto y estaba estudiando ingeniería en biotecnología. Me puse a investigar que si tipos de proveedores de tela, que si tipos de impresión… y bueno, me gustó tanto esta parte de negocios que terminé cambiando de carrera a Licenciatura en Creación y Desarrollo de Empresas.

Después de haber empezado Polana, conozco al padre Charles Mutua, quien es el fundador del orfanato que luché, y actualmente es muy buen amigo. Le expreso al padre el sueño que tenía desde los 13 años de irme de voluntaria a África.

Y el padre me dice:
“¡Buenísimo, Jessica! Bienvenida a mi orfanato. Ahora, ¿me puedes apoyar con algo económicamente hablando? Te lo agradecería mucho.”

Y yo:
“Ay padre… sabe que tengo 19 años, estoy estudiando, no soy millonaria. No es como que puedo soltarte acá la lanota… pues déjame ver qué puedo hacer.”

Thank you.

The world is in a bad state, not because bad people are bad, but because of the indifference and apathy of good people.

My experience and adventure in social entrepreneurship began when I was 19, selling cookies in the hallways of my university. I would go with a daily package of those delicious chocolate chip cookies they sell at Costco. But I wasn't just selling cookies, I was also advising high school kids who were selling concert tickets. I was also organizing events and helping a friend with her food business, and she gave me a commission.

I was doing all this because I wanted to raise money to go on missions and volunteer in different parts of Mexico. It's something I love and have been doing for as long as I can remember—since I was 9 years old. But at the same time, I was studying, so I was going crazy with all this, I wasn't concentrating, and I decided to do just one thing that would make me money and not many things that would distract me.

That's how I started my business. It's a clothing brand, sweatshirts and blouses. Of course, at first I knew absolutely nothing about this, and I was studying biotechnology engineering. I started researching different types of fabric suppliers, different types of printing... and well, I liked this business side so much that I ended up changing my major to a Bachelor's Degree in Business Creation and Development.

After starting Polana, I met Father Charles Mutua, who is the founder of the orphanage I worked at, and he is now a very good friend. I told Father about the dream I had had since I was 13 to go to Africa as a volunteer.

And the priest said to me: “That's great, Jessica! Welcome to my orphanage. Now, can you help me out financially? I would really appreciate it.”

And I said:

“Oh, Father... you know I'm 19 years old, I'm studying, I'm not a millionaire. It's not like I can just hand you a bunch of money... let me see what I can do.”

Thank you.

The world is bad, not because the bad are bad, but because of the indifference and apathy of the good.

My experience and adventure in social entrepreneurship began when I was 1U years old, selling cookies in the halls of my university. I went with a daily package of those that they sell in the Costco, with very good chocolate chips.  But not only was he selling cookies, he was also mentoring high school kids who have been selling concert tickets.  I was also organizing events and helping a friend with her food business, and she was giving me some commission.

I was doing all this because I wanted to raise money to go on missions and volunteer in different parts of Mexico.  It's something I love and that, for as long as I can remember - ever since I was U years old - I've been leaving.  But at the same time I was studying, so I was going crazy with all this, I wasn't concentrating, and I decided to do just one thing that would leave me money and not many where it would distract me.

That's how I started my business. It is a brand of clothing, sweatshirts and blouses. Of course, at the beginning I knew absolutely nothing about this and was studying engineering in biotechnology I started researching what types of fabric suppliers, what types of printing... well, I liked this part of business so much that I ended up changing careers to a Bachelor's Degree in Business Creation and Development.

After starting Polana, I met Father Charles Mutua, who is the creator of the orphanage I worked at, and we are now very great friends. I express to the father the dream I had since I was 13 years old to go from volunteer to factory; 

And the father says to me:“That's great, Jessica! Welcome to my orphanage. Now, can you support me with something financially speaking? I'd really appreciate it."

And me:

"Oh father... you know I'm 1U years old, I'm studying, I'm not a millionaire. It's not like I can drop the wool here... well, let me see what I can do."