Los Almendros Group

The secretary of the Puente de Amistad communal bank Los Almendros is Isabel, an enterprising woman who is 52 years old. She's a widow and has four children over the age of 23 who have a ninth-grade education. Isabel only finished sixth grade because of her parents' low income.

She started her three businesses 10 years ago: selling new and used casual clothing, silver jewelry, and raising creole chickens. Some months ago she started her fourth business: selling tortillas three times a day to coincide with mealtimes. She employs one of her daughters and that's how she's able to run her businesses.

Isabel wants to invest in her businesses so she's requesting her first Kiva loan. With this capital she will certainly buy sheeting, wood, nails, and netting to expand and strengthen the coops, as well as food for her animals, corn for the tortilla business, and a batch of silver jewelry.

There are seven Spanish-speaking women, natives of the Department of Suchitepéquez, who make up the communal bank. They participate in the Microcrédito Plus programs of loans, health, and monthly training. In these programs the women learn about good nutrition and how to prevent women's illnesses. This benefits not only the women but also their families.

These women work in new and used casual clothing sales, jewelry, raising domestic animals, growing staple grains, a tortilla shop, and food sales.

Thank you!

In this group: Maria , Kimberly Karina , Isabel, Isabel, Maria , Maria Josefina, Sherlin Yariza

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerCatharine Wall. View original language description.