Adding to basket
The “Las del Río” (The Ones from the River) communal bank has 7 members, all women. They are hardworking and enterprising. Most of them work in the fields and also raise animals to sell. They’ve learned these activities from their parents. They still preserve their native culture and traditions and are also kind, warmhearted women. They live in Jadán Parish located 28 kilometers from the city of Cuenca. This parish has a cold climate and several places to visit and enjoy nature.
One of this group’s members is María Rosario, 41. She’s married and has had ten children whose ages are 25, 22, 19, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6 and 2. Her oldest son is married and lives on his own. Her second daughter is studying away and also works. Her third son works and helps out economically. Her next three attend secondary school and the next three attend the local elementary school. Her husband works as a day laborer and she owns the house she lives in.
María works caring for her family but also grows tomatoes. These plants produce fruit every four months. She’s been in business 12 years and works Sunday to Sunday with no fixed schedule. She also grows vegetables and raises pigs, cattle and guinea pigs. Both the vegetables and the animals are to be sold.
She’s been in the communal bank for two years and will use her new loan to build a nursery. Her goal is to continue growing with the tomato crops.
In this group: María Eulalia, Eva Cecilia, Ana Matilde, María Rosario, María Ildaura, Martha Verónica, María Patricia
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer anonymized. View original language description.
