Adding to basket
One woman empowered through the Friendship Bridge “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education and health care, means that an average of six other people benefit including family, employees and community members. Ema, a 26-year-old single mother of two children (8 mos., 4 yrs.), has a sixth grade education and employs 13 women! The ladies embroider colorful traditional blouses called “huipiles” that are sold in the large markets of San Francisco, El Alto, Totonicapan and in their community. Ema can deliver 2 ½ dozen of these beautiful and sought after textiles every two weeks. With her third Kiva loan, Ema can buy a variety of fabric and thread.
Ema is the Secretary of the Trust Bank “Las Estrellitas” or “The Little Stars”. There are seven ladies in the group who live in a rural area in the department/state of Totonicapan. They all embroider “huipiles” with colorful flowers and animals. The women support and encourage each other, participate in monthly educational training sessions (health, family, women, business) and the bi-monthly “Health for Life” program. This program combines health education with women’s basic health services provided by a visiting nurse who speaks their Maya K’iche language. Some services offered include pelvic and PAP exams, breast exams and family planning consults. This effective combination of loans, education and health care is called “Microcredit Plus”.
Thank you, Kiva investors, for lending a helping hand to Ema and her friends.
In this group: Ema Abigahil , Santos Carmen , Sonia Amalia , Maria , Irma Rutilia , Berta Margarita, Mayra Lucrecia
