Mujeres Bendecidas Group

Ilma is seventy years old and the mother of four children (+37) and attended sixth grade and studied typing. Having lost her mother and caring for six siblings, Ilma had to take on a new challenge when her father got married a second time, also caring for her six step-siblings. At the age of twenty, Ilma got married and is now proud that all her children are professionals and university graduates. She is the grandmother of twelve grandchildren.

Thirty years ago, she opened various businesses, selling cooking dishes, selling used clothing, making food, personal use products from catalogs, and raising chickens. Ilma has a lot of demand for her products and is very sought out in her home-based business. She is asking for her third Kiva loan to purchase more dishes.

There are seven Spanish-speaking women who form the Friendship Bridge communal bank Mujeres Bendecidas in the department/state of Huehuetenango. The women have small business such as: selling kitchenware, small restaurants, selling new and used clothing, sewing curtains, and raising creole chickens. These women are strengthening themselves through the Microcrédito Plus program where they get training on topics of hygiene, nutrition, financing, and self-esteem. These topics will be a good method for the comprehensive growth and development of these women who have little or no formal education.

Thanks to the access to small loans, women such as Ilma can keep and strengthen their businesses.

In this group: Jackelin Elizabeth , Maria Del Carmen , Maria Aracely , Ilma Castillo , Virginia , Maria Isabel , Saydi Victoria

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerWendy H. View original language description.