Las Gardenias De Coatepeque Group

Maria is 54 years old, an entrepreneurial woman and leader in her community. She studied until ninth grade and has completed various training programs in areas like crafts, floristry, and art. She also learned carpentry alongside her husband. 

She is married to a carpenter and for the past 25 years they've worked together in a formal carpenter workshop in their home. Maria manages the family business, attending to customers, buying materials, varnishing, carving, and overseeing the final quality of furniture. 

She is the mother of four children, three who have graduated from high school and one who works in the family business. She has 5 nephews. 

Maria is requesting a third Kiva loan to buy wood and an industrial molding machine. Her goal is to grow her business and offer new designs to match her customers tastes. 

The seven woman of the Friendship Bridge “Las Gardenias De Quetzaltenago” communal bank plan to invest capital in their businesses which include carpentry, food sales, tortilla making, baking, and selling dried seeds and sacks. These women receive training as part of the Microcredit Plus program from Friendship Bridge where they learn about saving and smart investing. 

Thanks!

In this group: Drindis Noemi , Maria Antonieta , Arelis Sofia , Blanca Lidia , Yury Maricela , Maria Esperanza , Irma Yolanda

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerLesa Sexton. View original language description.