Adding to basket
In spite of all the dangers of traveling and crossing the border into the United States, there are a record number of Guatemalans who are fleeing poverty, climate change, and violence. They come here to work and to send home funds so that their families can buy food, medicine, and send their children to school. Sometimes, they build a bigger home.
Carmen, a 27-year-old married mother of 3 children (7-11) watched her husband leave for “El Norte”. She has a business selling complete outfits of colorful traditional textiles or “traje”. Carmen has 3 employees. With her 3rd Kiva loan, she will buy more traditional wrap-around skirts or “cortes” to resell.
Carmen is the Secretary of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Margaritas de Nimasac” in the department/state of Totonicapan. There are 6 other Maya K’iche ladies in the group who have traditional textile businesses. They have little or no formal education. Carmen was fortunate to start high school classes specializing in bookkeeping but she did not finish. All the women in the group participate in interactive educational sessions, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education, and health care services. Topics range from business to health, family matters and women’s issues. A recent session was about the use of natural plant medicines. Every 2 months, a visiting nurse, who speaks their Maya K’iche language, offers all kinds of consults, exams, and services.
Thank you, Kiva investors!
In this group: Imelda Azucena, Maria Magdalena , Carmen Angelica, Ana Micaela, Karla Beatriz, Maria Florinda , Maricela Josefa
