Adding to basket
Rosalva, 52, is the mother of six children (13 to 35 years old) and the grandmother of eleven. She has a second-grade education. Her husband recently became ill and she is the only one supporting the couple and their youngest child. Her older children have a 9th-grade education and are independent, occasionally helping her with some expenses. For fifteen years, Rosalva has been selling beverages, delicious regional appetizers or “antojitos”, and also raising animals. At area celebrations, she offers these services to boost her income. With her first Kiva loan, Rosalva can buy cooking ustensils, ingredients for recipes, and also some animals.
Eight women live in the department (state) of Quetzaltenango and make up the Puente de Amistad “Las Margaritas de Sibilia” communal bank. These women sell prepared foods and raise animals to sell within their community and beyond. In addition to accessing a microloan, they make loan payments and then participate in interactive educational trainings led by a facilitator on current topics that are relevant to their lives focusing on four areas: health, business, family, and women. They are crucial for the women's success, as they have very little to no formal education. They learn a lot from the training, as well as from their children and grandchildren, who in most cases have more education than they do.
Thank you!
In this group: Rosalva Margarita, Maria Consuelo , Lucia Flor De Maria, Senaida Duvilia , Yorleni Yamali , Silvia Elizabeth , Amalia Carmencita, Geronima
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Laura Kanost. View original language description.
