Emprendedoras Chiche Group

Hilaria's experience and perseverance have been her greatest strength. At the age of 65 she is a widow and the mother of eight children (more than 26 years old); two died as babies and six are married and have given her 16 grandchildren. She only went up to the third grade in school due to the family's difficult financial situation.

For the past 18 years, Hilaria has been a seamstress, making skirts, dresses and uniforms. Additionally, for the past two years she has been running a convenience store out of her house.  Taking advantage of her proximity to a parking lot, she has a third business making and selling breakfasts and lunches to order, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

She is asking for her first Kiva loan so that she can buy a refrigerator to keep the beverages cold. She will also buy ingredients for her recipes as well as staple goods and snacks. Hilaria's goals are to continue strengthening her businesses and generating more income for her wellbeing.

In the Friendship Bridge communal bank "Emprendedoras de Chiche" there are seven women who speak the Maya language, K'iche and Spanish.  They run small convenience stores and a nixtamal mill, sell meals and casual clothing, and weave textiles. The "Microcredito Plus" program is important to them because it provides monthly training in which they learn about such topics as health, business, family, and women's issues.

Hilaria is grateful to the Kiva lenders.

In this group: Maria , Hilaria , Maria Luisa, Esmirna Maricelda, Maria , Cristina , Maria , Cristina , Maria Isabel

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerMarcia Margolis. View original language description.