Caramelo 1 Group

Catarina, 32, didn't have the chance to go to school; she's illiterate. She started to work with her parents when she was 8, herding sheep and cattle. She learned to weave because her mother taught her, which enabled her to add her textile sales to her parents' income.

She got married to her partner at the age of 20; they have three children. They work making traditional textiles, skirts, and huipils.

She found out about the Asociación Chajulense de Mujeres Unidas por la Vida from a friend, who said the association gave loans to women. She and her husband talked about the opportunity and decided to request her first loan.

This year she will receive her fourth loan. She has invested all her loans in her textiles by buying supples for making traditional skirts.

With her fourth loan she will expand her business with a purchase of thread for making her traditional skirts.

Catarina is the leader of the Caramelo 1 group, made up of five women, all of Maya Ixil ethnicity. The group will invest 80% in textiles and 20% in retail sales. Each group member has four children on average and the average age of the members is 38; 60% are illiterate, 20% didn't finish primary school, and 20% did finish primary school.

In this group: Ana, Ana, Carolina Margarita, Catarina, Catarina

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