La Bendción 4 Group

María is 30 years old. She grew up with her parents, who supported her studies up to the fourth grade. From a young age, she worked on a plantation harvesting coffee to help her family cover household expenses.

She married at 16 and now has three children. Through a friend, she learned about the loans for women offered by the Chajulense Association of United Women for Life, and this year she will receive her fifth loan.

María used her first three loans for the maintenance and cleaning of coffee plants and to open a store selling everyday consumer products. Last year, she invested her loan in buying and selling potatoes, and this year she plans to expand her potato business because it has provided good profits. She is very grateful to the Association, as it has enabled her to generate better income to support her family.

María leads a group called La Bendición 4, which includes five women—one from the Maya Ixil ethnicity, one from the Maya Kanjobal ethnicity, and three from the Ladino ethnicity. The group will invest 80% of their loan in textiles and 20% in retail sales.

On average, each group member has four children, and the average age of the group members is 32 years. About 80% are illiterate, and 20% did not complete primary school.

In this group: María, María Mayti, María Verónica, Martha Edith, Maruca

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerRuss Sprinkle. View original language description.