Adding to basket
Colorful Guatemalan clothing is handmade by talented artisans who are proud to carry on this tradition. Maya women continue to adorn themselves daily in these beautiful textiles.
This is the business of 43-year-old Juana, who weaves and sells traditional wraparound skirts or “cortes." She is a married mother of seven children (ages nine to 25). She has five employees who weave while she arranges the thread in different designs.
In spite of the restrictions of COVID19, she is still able to deliver an average of 20 “cortes” each month to three customers.
Juana is requesting her first Kiva loan to buy two wooden looms, complete with tools and thread. The 32,000 under-served women who participate in the Friendship Bridge “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education, and healthcare services often have little or no formal education. As children, they had to work to help support their families. Juana has no formal education. She appreciates the monthly educational training in her Trust Bank called “Flor de Parraxche."
There are 13 other Maya K’iche women in the group who live in the department/state of Totonicapan. These ladies are anxious to gain information about effective business management practices and useful information about themselves, their families, and healthy habits including nutrition and hygiene. (The children in the photo are part of the group.)
The ladies have hope for a more successful future because of the opportunities afforded them by Kiva investors and Friendship Bridge.
In this group: Juana , Evelinda , Maria Venancia , Catarina , Antonia Guillermina , Florinda Isabel , Catarina , Isabel , Juana Rosa , Magdalena , Ana , Catarina , Isabel Sulamita , Rosa
