Las Empoderadas Group

Forty-three-year-old Claudia is married to a man who sews sports clothing. They have three children, aged eleven to twenty-two. Their oldest daughter is married, and they have two grandchildren. She shares that she only has a sixth-grade education because her parents could not afford to send her to school any longer. Her older children finished the sixth grade, and the youngest is in the fifth grade.

Ten years ago, Claudia opened her business making delicious tacos on weekends. Seven years later, she opened her variety store. She advertises on social media. Her oldest daughter helps her with the business. She wants to expand the business and meet new demand. With her third loan, she will buy chairs, tables, pots/pans, glasses, reusable water bottles, and inventory for her variety store.

Six women elected Claudia to be President of their Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Las Empoderadas”. They live in the department/state of Huehuetenango and sell casual clothing, blankets, catalog products, jewelry, regional snack foods, and pastry goods. Since they have little or no formal education, they benefit greatly from monthly education training, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program. Recent topics were about savings and the risks of loaning one’s name to another person’s business. Other topics are about business, health, women’s issues, and family matters.

They thanked the Kiva lenders.

In this group: Andrea Gabriela , Karin Yesenia , Gabriela Del Carmen , Mildred Elizabeth , Claudia Carolina , Wendy Yesenia , Britany Mabely