Luchadoras De Candelaria Group

Twenty-nine year old Yenny graduated from high school with an accounting diploma but because there are no opportunities in the community where she lives in Quetzaltenango, she has never worked as an accountant. Her husband is a dishwasher in a restaurant and they have two children who are 6 and 11 years old.

Four years ago, she opened her business making car seat driving cushions. Her sister-in-law and husband help her with the business and can make 12 cushions each week. She sells by custom orders from her home. She requests her second Kiva loan to buy raw materials like curved plastic tubing, and agave fiber at the wholesale level.

Yenny and seven friends who have convenience stores, sell catalog products, tortillas, cheese and casual clothing, formed the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Luchadoras de Candelaria.” They meet monthly, make loan payments and participate in interactive educational training, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education and healthcare services. A recent topic for the training was about the use of social media to effectively communicate and advertise their businesses. Other topics are centered around health, business, women’s issues and family matters. Every other month, they have access to basic healthcare services delivered by a traveling nurse. Basic exams, consults and family planning are a few of the services that she offers to Yenny and her friends.

Thank you, Kiva lenders, for lending a helping hand!

In this group: Erica Maritza , Blanca Lidia , Gloria Albertina, Yenny Lisbeth , Sandra Aracely, Gloria Eluvia , Cinthia , Reyna Rosmeri