Adding to basket
The nearly 28,000 ladies who participate in the “Microcredit Plus” program (loans + education) of Friendship Bridge have 2.6 years of formal education. Maria, the 53-year-old President of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Sector Morales”, has had none. She was able to send her four children (ages 13-26) through primary school. Maria realizes the tremendous value of being educated and learns a great deal in the monthly educational trainings designed by a Facilitator from the organization. Maria can make better business decisions as she learns about budgeting, planning, investing and savings. She can care for her family better as she learns about hygiene, nutrition and healthy practices. Finally, she can empower herself as she gains self esteem and knowledge about women’s rights and roles, and reproductive health.
Maria and her friends live in the state/department of El Quiche in the Western Highlands. There are seven Maya K’iche ladies in “Sector Morales”. As children, they learned the art of weaving colorful traditional textiles. Now, they have their own businesses and can contribute income to meet the family expenses. This is their first loan with Kiva. Maria is requesting a loan to invest in her traditional textile business and plans to buy a variety of different colors of thread at the wholesale level.
Thank you, Kiva investors, for believing that these ladies can empower themselves and eliminate poverty! They are on their way
In this group: Maria, Francisca, Mirna Tomasa, Candelaria, Maria, Josefa, Petrona
