Adding to basket
The art of weaving and embroidering Mayan textiles has been passed down from generation to generation. Traditionally, young women learn to organize the colors of the yarn for the floor looms and the back strap to then knit and embroider. Other women also embroider using racks.
Concepción, a member of the Communal Bank of Friendship Bridge “Mujeres Valientes Atitlan,” learned about the creation of these textiles when she was a child. She lives in the department/state of Sololá and finished third grade of elementary school.
She shares: “I am 43 years old and I have a business of embroidering huipiles, which are beautiful traditional blouses. I am married and my husband is a merchant selling backpacks. We have three children ages 7 to 17 years old. With the income from the business, we can send our children to primary and secondary school.”
To keep the business growing, Concepción is requesting her first loan from Kiva to buy high-quality yarns.
In the group, there are 10 women of the Mayan Tzutuhil ethnic group who sell traditional clothing, embroider textiles, and are artisans. The monthly educational training that the women receive at monthly business, health, family and women's meetings is essential to their success. So are bi-monthly health care visits from a nurse who speaks their language. This essential combination of loans, education and healthcare is called Microcredit Plus.
Thank you to all of the Kiva lenders who finance these highly valued loans!
In this group: Concepcion Lusly , Josefa , Josefa , Concepcion , Rosario , Maria , Juana , Juana , Andrea Esther , Manuela
