Amistad Group

Maria (36 years old) has been cultivating cardamom with her husband for twelve years, which is their main source of income to support their family. She plants on her own land and, during peak seasons, employs two people to harvest and clean the crops. Maria sells wholesale to various consumers in other areas. She is happy because three years ago she started a second business raising free-range chickens, which she sells from home. Maria is married to a farmer. She is the mother of three children, ages seven to thirteen, who are in first, third, and fifth grade. Maria wants to buy seeds and biological agricultural inputs to improve the quality and quantity of her crops. She hopes to increase her harvest and earn more income to help her husband and ensure a better quality of life for her children.

There are seven Q'eqchi' Maya women in the Friendship Bridge Community Bank, originally from the department/state of Quiché. Most of them are involved in cardamom cultivation and raising livestock. The “Microcredit Plus” program is important for these women because it provides them with monthly training on topics such as health, business, family, and women's issues, as well as a bimonthly visit from a nurse who offers all kinds of basic services, consultations, and information requests.

The partnership between Kiva and Friendship Bridge is vital for the progress and success of these women. Thank you!

In this group: Susana , Juana , Isabel , Maria , Virgilia , Elena , Delfina

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerCindy Kendall. View original language description.