Killa Group

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Killa Group, consisting of FLOR DE MARIA, ELIZABETH, MERCEDES ANTONIA, ROSA, OLGA, FLORA MARIA, SHENVY ARELY, LUIS GERARDO, LILI MARIA, LUISA, DERBY, MARIBEL by Asociación Arariwa in Peru. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the 3 months of this loan, Asociación Arariwa will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Remember your loan to Banco Comunal Killa from Asociación Arariwa?

Killa is a Quechua name that means Luna, or moon, who was the wife of Sun God, for our ancestors the Incas.

The members of Killa are engaged in various activities. Some members sell cellphone calls, one is a school teacher, one married couple are partners in a tourist restaurant. Other members own a grocery store or sell liquor.

I visited the group during the third loan payment meeting at Arariwa. Luis, the group president, arrived a bit late and when he entered, the whole group gave him a round of applause and said "Buenas Noches Señor" or Good Evening Sir!

One member was sick so she couldn't make the meeting. They discussed plans for Christmas time. It is a tradition for some banks to share gifts with one another of food or a fruit cake called Panetone that is often eaten here in Cusco during Christmas time. During the meeting, the group changed loan officers from Karina to Celina. Celina introduced herself and Emperatrice, the Supervisor, told the group that the bank's work would continue in the same manner.

I had a chance to talk with Luis after the meeting. He told me that at first the group members were scared to enter the financial system. But after their first loan cycle, they are now comfortable with Arariwa's way of work, they are working well together. He said Arariwa has helped the group a lot and teaches them many things about finance. He is interested to learn how other communal banks grow because he would like to grow their group as well.

If you would like to lend to another Asociación Arariwa entrepreneur, please click here (http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&partner_id=119&status=Fundraising&sortBy=Old+to+New&pageID=1)

Or please join our Lending Team, Amigos/as de Asociación Arariwa (http://www.kiva.org/team/arariwa)