Adding to basket
Grisela is 49 years of age, in a relationship, and the mother of five children (15 to 32). Of her children, the two youngest are students in the ninth grade and first year of secondary school, while the older ones have finished high school. She only has eight years of education, because her greatest priority was working, and so she didn't give much thought to studying.
Grisela has been working since she was very young. Currently, she works in an amusement park, in charge of a convenience store. To generate extra income, six years ago she started her own business. Grisela sells firewood, plastic items, and food. On her days off, she seizes the opportunity to offer her products for sale.
Grisela requests her second Kiva loan to buy more firewood, plastic items, and ingredients for her recipes. She wants to increase her products. In the future, she wishes to have her own shop.
There are seven women who make up the Friendship Bridge communal bank "Las Tinecas." Grisela is very active; she participates as secretary and takes attendance during the payment meetings. The women are from the department/state of Retalhuleu, and they engage in sales of firewood, plastic items, lotions, food, second-hand clothing, and eggs. Other women make cakes and raise chickens.
Thanks to the Friendship Bridge "Microcredit Plus" program, these women empower themselves through monthly training sessions where they learn about topics related to business, health, education, and family.
In this group: Sonia Beatriz, Grisela Lorena, Ana Maria, Candelaria America , Yojana Paola , Karla Rosmery , Vilma Nineth
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Christine Bruggemann. View original language description.
