Las Ardillitas Group

Forty-one-year-old Sebastiana has four children ranging in age from five to seventeen. All are enrolled in school. She is quite proud that one graduated from high school. Her husband works in a convenience store in their community located in the department/state of Quiche. She had no formal education because her father died when she was six years old, and her mother was not able to send her and her five siblings to school.

Sixteen years ago, she opened her business making colorful traditional blouses called “huiples”. Two of her children help her with the business, and each week, she can deliver twelve “huipiles”. Seven years ago, she started another business raising chickens that are sold in the local market. Her goal is to have her own shop for her textile business. Sebastiana requests her first Kiva loan to buy a sewing machine and a large quantity of thread.

Sebastiana, along with six other Maya K’iche women, is a member of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Las Ardillitas” or “The Little Squirrels”. The ladies elected her to be their President! They weave/embroider/make accessories for “huipiles”, and also raise domestic livestock. They appreciate the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, monthly educational training (business, health, family, women), and bi-monthly healthcare services (exams, consults, family planning). A recent topic for the training was about the risks of loaning one’s name to another person’s business.

Thank you, Kiva lenders!!!

In this group: Sandra Isabel , Sebastiana, Magdalena, Maria , Maria Isabel, Maria Lucrecia, Angelina