Adding to basket
The proximity of the mountains, the cane fields, the sun and the clouds are the factors responsible for providing a nice view along the way to reach the community where the elderly still speak Mazatec, an indigenous language. Other products from the land that are very important land for the economy of the region are mango, corn, lemon and banana. Here, the San Valentin group was formed on February 14; The members and their economic activities are:
Paula - Butcher
Romualda, Adalberto - Farming sugar cane
Susana, Juana - Selling fertilizer
Celia, Adriana, Marcelina - Selling "antojitos" (street food)
Yessica - Selling drinks
Liliana, Felicitas, Felipa - Selling chicken
Martina - Selling tamales and fertilizers
Evarista, Imelda, Abrahan - Selling groceries
Filogonia - Bakery
Luisa – Selling tamales
Pascuala - Selling sugar cane and street food
Juliana - Selling clothing
Romualda is a very hard working woman. In the community, she is known as "Mualda". She is married to Eduardo and they are parents of an 8 year old boy and a 5 year old girl. Both are sponsored by World Vision Mexico, a humanitarian institution partnered with VF Mexico that helps to improve the living conditions of children.
Mualda has lived in the same place since she was born. Her parents have been dedicated to farming sugar cane since it is the main activity of the area. Since she was young, she accompanied her parents to the field and there learned farm work. Seven years ago, she inherited part of her parents' land which allowed her to start her own business selling sugar cane. In the harvest season, Mualda's husband is in charge of burning the cane to proceed with the cutting and with supervising the workers who support them. Meanwhile she is in charge of preparing food for everyone and taking it to the field. After cutting, the workers form ridges or grooves in the land, which allows them to return to plant the product. They also intersperse bean and maize seeds to provide nutrients to the land so that it remains fertile. In the following months, the workers fertilize the land and clean it of brush that robs nutrients. To keep the land clean, Mualda and her husband go early with their hoes.
The previous loans have helped the pair to buy chemical and organic fertilizers and the income from selling cane pays their family expenses, their children's education, and to make repairs to their house. They need the current loan to buy chemical and organic fertilizers and two hand pumps to keep the land irrigated. To increase their income, Mualda plans to buy 5 hectares more of land where she will plant only maize and beans.
"Thanks for trusting in us and providing us a new loan for our work, which is the source of our economic solvency to provide a good quality of life to our family."
* The photograph was taken on the patio of Mualda's house. She is the one in a blue blouse and is carrying her daughter who is dressed in blue green. The other children in the photo are children of the members.
In this group: Paula, Romualda, Susana, Juana Lilia, Celia, Yessica, Adriana, Liliana, Martina, Felicitas, Evarista, Filogonia, Luisa, Imelda, Adalberto, Pascuala, Juliana, Marcelina, Felipa, Abrahan
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Kate Divjak. View original language description.
