Finding Community in San Francisco: Matilde’s Story

When Matilde first immigrated to the United States she imagined it would be easy to start her life anew. She says, “We left everything looking for something better.”  Leaving behind a 20-year career in Lima, Peru, she arrived in San Francisco with her 15-year-old son, only to find her qualifications disregarded and her path forward uncertain.

Overcoming Challenges & Finding Community  

“We have to survive, we have to do something,” Matilde told her mother in Peru. After having different jobs, she joined The Women’s Collective, an organization that helped her find houses to clean and supported newly arrived immigrant women learning to become house cleaners. Matilde decided to also volunteer her time and helped newcomers understand how to find clients and navigate their new context in San Francisco. She became an indispensable and resourceful member of the organization.

Her involvement in various organizations helped her realize the depth of resources and support available to the community in San Francisco. 

Discovering MAF

Matilde first learned about MAF through her son Edher, who discovered us during an outreach event at Mission High School. After seeing the positive impact our programs could have, Matilde decided to visit MAF herself in 2014.

“It was great luck to find MAF,” Matilde says.

During her first visit to the MAF office, she met with long-time employee Doris, who helped her navigate the MAF application while taking time to understand her financial situation and goals. Matilde then joined MAF’s Lending Circles program, a social loan initiative that provides zero-interest loans while helping clients build credit and create community connections.

Even within her initial Lending Circle group, the shared experiences and stories forged a strong connection among the members, despite having just met. She said, “What people need when they come to MAF is to share their problems, tell their stories and be understood.”

Covering all of her mother’s medical expenses and caretakers was the biggest motivator for Matilde to continue participating in the Lending Circles and make a habit of savings

She says, “The challenges were difficult, but I think I knew how to face them…the thing is to find solutions. I think I have learned some things about finance in my life. MAF, with classes, reinforces the lessons.”

New horizons

Matilde’s unwavering spirit helped her overcome the challenges of caring for her ailing mother while supporting herself. After her positive experience with MAF, she encouraged her son to join as well, who used the Lending Circles to build credit and fund his college education. With Matilde’s support and encouragement, he graduated and even went on to earn two master’s degrees. Today, he works in college access and completion, helping first-generation, low-income students succeed.

Now, at 71, Matilde’s heart is filled with pride for the life she has built. She continues to work diligently, but her eyes are set on new horizons. She dreams of travel and adventure, of exploring Panama, Puerto Rico, and Europe. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering belief in herself prove that with courage and perseverance even the greatest challenges can be overcome.

Reflecting on all of the ups and downs of leaving Peru, ultimately Matilde says, “The sacrifice is worth it.”