Belen Cerro De Oro (group 1)

Across from school’s cement courtyard, where turkeys spread their tails, mocking the unfortunate fate of the fried chickens being sold for lunch, sit 28 women under the shade of an avocado tree. Shifting periodically to avoid the sun's glare as it tracks across the sky, the women of the Belen communal bank are perched on rocks, steps or sitting flat on the ground, waiting for their meeting to begin. They have come from all over their town of Cerro de Oro, by foot, tuc tuc, or bus, to this central spot where they have been meeting once a month for the past seven years. Surrounded by poverty, this avocado tree brings them hope with each meeting. It is under this tree that they receive their loans from Friendship Bridge and learn how to best invest to change their futures.

The majority of the 28 women are artisans, born and raised in a region known for its beautiful weavings. Of the 28 women, 11 are asking for a loan of 32,500 quetzales ($4,275), ranging from $300 to $400 per person. All of these women will invest their loans in weaving and embroidery businesses, purchasing thread and fabric for intricate huipiles (traditional woven blouses, like the ones in the picture), skirts, scarves, and blankets. The supplies they purchase come from the nearby town of Santiago de Atitlán. One woman also sells firewood, the main source of fuel in the area, to supplement her weaving business. She will use about 25% of her loan to invest in firewood.

Long before the monthly meetings under the avocado tree, the women of Belen worked long days in the factories of other weavers, earning meager incomes that could barely provide food or shelter for their families. Since joining Friendship Bridge, all 28 women have become their own bosses, opening their own businesses, employing as many as five other women in turn. They are also teaching their daughters the trade, which is an important aspect of the Atitlán culture. However, their dreams go further for their children. Their children all attend the local school, and their mothers dream that they will learn to read and write, acquiring knowledge of other things, so that someday they can break free from the struggles of their parents and enter a world full of opportunity.



About Group Loans
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults. Learn more