Comunicadoras Maya Group

In the remote town of Pujujuil 1, hamlet of el Progresso live the ladies that belong to the Comunicadoras Mayan communal bank. El Progresso is a town that is located in a very remote area in the mountains of the region of Solola. The ladies have to walk an hour and a half to arrive at the first location of "pick ups", the main method of public transportation of this region.

Sadly, this town was violently affected during the civil war. Nevertheless, little by little non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions have begun to help this group of people to develop and to increase their standards of living through different types of assistance.

Comunicadoras Mayan is a formidable group. They have two loans with the institution and they have never been late with their payments. It is incredible that people who live in a so remote an area and with so few opportunities for work have such an excellent credit record.

The majority of the group works in the textile sector. Many are weavers. They weave the traditional suits using the waist loom technique. Other ladies work in the breeding of animals. They raise chickens and hogs. Some ladies have two businesses. For example Ramos Xep weaves traditional clothes and makes jeweled necklaces.

When it was asked of them if they faced competition, they responded yes. However they noted that, due to working a long time in the business, they already have specific buyers to whom they sell.

The ladies think that the loans have helped them a lot, because this has been the only infusion of capital that they have received in their life. Some say that without this loan their business would never have been able to do well.

Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.

En el remoto pueblo de Pujujuil 1, caserio el Progreso habitan las señoras que pertenecen al banco comunal Comunicadoras Mayas. El Progreso es un pueblo que queda en un área muy retirada en las montañas del departamento de Solola. Las señoras tienen que caminar una hora y media para llegar al primer paradero de “pick ups”, el método principal de transporte público de esta región.

Lamentablemente, este pueblo fue violentamente afectado durante la guerra civil. Sin embargo, poco a poco ONGs e instituciones gubernamentales han empezado a ayudar a este grupo de gente a desarrollar e incrementar sus niveles de vida por medio de distintos tipos de asistencia.

Comunicadoras Mayas es un grupo formidable. Ellas llevan dos préstamos con la institución y nunca se han atrasado con sus pagos. Es increíble como gente que vive en un área tan remota y con tan pocas oportunidades de trabajo tenga un record crediticio tan excelente.

La mayoría del grupo trabaja en el sector textil. Muchas son tejedoras. Ellas tejen los trajes tradicionales utilizando la técnica de telar de cintura. Otras señoras trabajan en la crianza de animales. Ellas crían pollos y cerdos. Algunas señoras tienen dos negocios. Por ejemplo Ramos Xep teje ropa tradicional y elabora joyas a base de mostacilla.

Cuando se les preguntó a las señoras si ellas percibían la competencia. Ellas respondieron que si, sin embargo ellas especificaron que debido a que llevan mucho tiempo en el negocio, ellas ya tienen compradores específicos a quien venderles.

Las señoras piensan que el crédito las ha ayudado mucho porque este ha sido la única infusión de capital que ellas han recibido durante su vida. Algunas dicen que sin este préstamo sus negocios nunca hubieran podido salir adelante.


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