Four years ago, Ana separated from her husband. She is now 27 years old and has 3 children who range in age from 16 mos. to 10 years of age. Every afternoon starting at 3:00, she opens her prepared food business outside of her home and sells her delicious recipes. She is open until 9 p.m. Ana needs to fix up the house where she lives and that is why she is requesting her 2nd KIVA loan. She will also buy ingredients for her food business. She sets aside income for the continuing education of her oldest son who is in the 4th grade. Her goal is to construct her own home on her own piece of land.

Ana has been voted to be the President of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Bendecidas Cambote” in the department/state of Huehuetenango in Northern Guatemala. There are 6 other women in the group who sell personal care products, tortillas, prepared foods including tamales, and raise chickens and turkeys. Others have convenience stores. They like to gather together at their monthly meetings when they offer each other support, make loan payments and participate in an educational training, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program. A “Plus” in the program is a monthly educational training with topics drawn from 4 areas: business, health, family, and women.

Ana was fortunate to attend school for 8 years, but many of the ladies have little or no formal education.

Thank you, KIVA investors, for learning about Ana and her friends and for funding their much needed loans!