20 De Mayo Group

Ten years ago, when she was twenty-six years old, Maria opened her poultry business and started selling chickens from her home in a community in the department/state of Quiche. Her husband sells cell phone accessories. The couple has three children who range in age from two to fifteen. The older children are in kindergarten and ninth grade. Maria only attended school for four years.

Seven years ago, she started an additional business embroidering colorful blouses/”huipiles”, and skirts/”cortes” that she sells by custom order in two local markets. She has three employees who help her fill orders. Every month, she can complete five outfits!

Maria requests her third Kiva loan to buy fabric and thread, so her employees will have what they need to complete orders. Her goals are to continue to grow the business, hire more employees, and increase income.

Maria joined seven other Maya K’iche women and formed the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “20 de Mayo”. The majority of these ladies have traditional textile businesses, while a few others sell cell phone accessories. They benefit greatly from the “Microcredit Plus” program, which includes loans, monthly educational training (health, women, family, business), and bi-monthly health care services (exams, consultations, family planning). Recent training has been about wise business administration practices and how to be an effective entrepreneur.

Thank you, Kiva lenders!

In this group: Maria Victoria , Josefina, Juana, Rosa , Manuela , Maria, Silvia Manuela, Lucia