San Antonio Group

A fruit-selling business in the market requires high quality, freshness, and an orderly display by colors and sizes to attract customers. Manuela (35 years old) knows this very well and for the past fifteen years she has worked in this business at a stall in the local market.

Manuela is originally from the western part of the country. As a child, her family migrated to the south coast of the department/state of Suchitepéquez. She completed six years of elementary school, but was unable to continue her studies because she is the eldest of seven siblings.

At the age of thirteen, she worked in other people’s homes doing domestic chores. She also worked as a nanny, and in convenience stores for seven years.

She formed a partnership with a sandal merchant, and together they have raised five children (ranging from 20 months to 15 years old). With great effort, Manuela is able to send four of her children to primary and secondary school. In order to invest in her business, she is applying for her sixth Kiva loan to purchase fruit.

Seven women make up the Friendship Bridge San Antonio Bank. Five women are Spanish speakers. Manuela and another client are K’iche’-speaking Mayan women. These women run businesses ranging from fruit sales to sandal sales. They are pleased to participate in the “Microcredit Plus” program, which offers loans, monthly educational trainings (in health, family, women’s issues and business), and bimonthly health services. Recent training topics have focused on investment and savings.

Thank you!

In this group: Marta Lidia, Sebastiana, Manuela Cruz , Iliana Alicia , Elena , Floricelda Noemi, Reyna Cecilia

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerLaurie Hiller. View original language description.