Marta Perez is one of VisionSpring’s inspiring Vision Entrepreneurs. Born into an impovrished family with fourteen children, Marta experienced more than her share of hardships early in life. Resolved not to feel sorry for herself, Marta has was determined to fight for her dreams, and for the dreams of her community.
Marta joined VisionSpring in El Salvador as one of our very first Vision Entrepreneurs in 2002. According to Marta, the job appealed to her because she could help low-income people while making a living. When asked why she has stayed with VisionSpring for so long, Marta enthusiastically responds “ I make money selling eyeglasses, but most of all, I earn many people’s respect. Customers stop me in the street to tell me how wonderful it feels to see again, and that makes me happy.”

For Marta, VisionSpring has become a family enterprise. When her husband saw how successful and respected Marta had become, he decided to become a Vision Entrepreneur as well. With their combined savings, they have been able to send their oldest son to university, where he is now studying optometry. Impressed by the difference that his mother has made in people’s lives, his dream is to one day provide affordable eye care to low-income communities himself. Marta’s fourteen year-old daughter also looks up to her mother as a role model and hopes to work in vision care when she grows up.
On a recent visit to El Salvador, we sat down with Marta, who told us of one particular experience that stuck out in her mind. “One day, all six of my children begged to come with me to a vision camp. They just sat there watching me for hours while I screened customers and sold glasses!” she recalls, laughing. Then, more seriously, she adds, “It feels good for me to have their support and admiration.”

At the end of the interview, Marta made a comment that encapsulates the spirit of VisionSpring, our partners, and our Vision Entrepreneurs around the world: “I have so many dreams, and these dreams are so important to me that I have no choice but to keep fighting for them.”