Adding to basket
Although the economy of the department/state of Chimaltenango is mainly based on agriculture, a substantial part of the population, mainly women, fabricates traditional textiles. Vilma, a member of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Girasoles de Xeatzan” group, or “Sunflowers of Xeatzan,” has a traditional textile business. Her husband is a farmer. The couple has 2 childre, aged 3 and 5.
Vilma employs 6 women who, in turn, are able to support their own families. She shares, “I feel happy because I am developing myself as a business owner and can also raise the standard of living for my family. The business is growing and I am happy that the lives of my employees and their families are impacted as well.” This busy woman and her employees can deliver 15 beautiful traditional blouses or “huipiles” each week. Vilma is requesting her second Kiva loan to buy thread for her textile business, as well as fertilizer for her farm, where she grows peas and broccoli.
There are 10 other women in the group who participate in monthly educational sessions, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education, and healthcare services. They empower themselves (self esteem, women’s rights/roles), learn to care more effectively for their families (nutrition, hygiene, health), and acquire basic business tools (planning, budgeting, savings, investing). Since the ladies have little or no formal education, these educational sessions are vital to their success.
Thank you, Kiva investors, for the important role you play!
In this group: Petrona , Maria Delfina , Juana , Isabel , Nicolasa , Vilma Josefina , Victoriana , Maria , Paula , Margarita , Maria
