Adding to basket
Many of the hard working and dedicated ladies, who participate in the Friendship Bridge “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education, and health care services, have more than one business. Maria is one of these women. She is a married 29-year-old mother of two children (ages four and nine). She is a weaver fabricating traditional wrap around skirts or “cortes” as well as a farmer. From May through December, Maria works alongside her husband tending their apple, peach, plum and avocado trees. When each is harvested, Maria delivers her high quality fruit to a wholesaler who takes it to the huge market in Chichicastenango. She is requesting her very first Kiva loan to buy avocado and peach trees.
Maria, along with seven other Maya K’iche ladies, is a member of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Las Princesas” in the department/state of Quiche. Like Maria, the other women are farmers and talented traditional textile artisans. They have an average of three years of formal education. At their monthly meetings, now held by cell phone, the ladies participate in educational training sessions that cover an aspect of four topics: health, family, women, business. Maria shares that she especially has appreciated learning about essential health practices to avoid getting sick with the coronavirus. She has also learned a great deal about new strategies for her businesses.
Thank you, Kiva lenders, for taking the time to learn about Maria and her friends. They would greatly appreciate your generosity!
In this group: Tomasa , Maria Del Carmen , Juana , Sebastiana , Maria , Juana , Sandra Juana , Micaela
