Martina Sabina Gómez González

Ms. Martina at 48 years of age has been able to overcome many difficulties. She is the single mother of her 15 year old daughter, and is divorced, but the father supports his daughter financially. Martina lives in the North Laureles neighborhood. She has to monitor her daughter so that she comes out ahead academically, as she is currently in high school and requires many things and personal attention. Ms. Martina works in a cafeteria, and is the one who cooks the food that is offered there. She has been working there for 5 years, although it is not easy because she arrives early and leaves late, and has to be available to her daughter. Martina's mother looks after her daughter so that she doesn't have to be home alone. The loan is to repair the roof of the house, as it is in bad shape. To do this, Martina needs purlins and zinc. In the long run, Martina would like to change jobs to have more time to spend with her family.

Translated from Spanish by Jordan Shanker, Kiva Volunteer

Doña Martina a sus 48 años de edad, ha podido sobresalir de tantas dificultades pues es madre soltera de su hija de 15 años de edad, está separada, pero el padre de su hija la apoya económicamente, habita en el barrio Laureles Norte, tiene que velar por su hija para que pueda salir adelante en sus estudios, actualmente está en secundaria y se requiere de muchos gastos y atención personal. Doña Martina trabaja en un comedor y es la que prepara los alimentos que ahí se ofrecen, tiene cinco años de estar laborando en el comedor, aunque no es fácil por que desde muy temprano llega a su trabajo y sale tarde, y tiene que estar pendiente de su hija, su abuelita cuida de la adolescente para que ella no esté sola en la casa. Con la solicitud de préstamo es para poder hacer reparación en el techo que está en mal estado para eso necesita comprar perlines y zinc. A largo plazo es poder cambiar de trabajo para tener más tiempo para su familia.


Important Information About This Loan
Kiva recently posted a message regarding the “No Pago” movement in Nicaragua (a movement for non-payment of loans). This movement, supported mostly by farmers of the north of Nicaragua with ties to the left-wing party in Nicaragua, has been organizing protests and had submitted a law to the government to create a moratorium on debt repayment. Initially it was unclear whether this law would pass, which would have had severe effects on the banking and microfinance industry in Nicaragua. However in the last month the executive branch rejected the law in its current form. The No Pago movement still exists but seems to have lost some steam. There is still a possibility that a law encouraging more restructuring of loans could pass next year, and microfinance institutions are voluntarily restructuring loans to delinquent borrowers, still increasing risk of lending in Nicaragua. However indications are that the situation is less dramatic than before.


About Housing Loans
Many poor families are financially unable to purchase a house that meets their needs. Housing loans funded on Kiva give families access to capital to improve their homes and an opportunity to pay loans back at a pace that they can handle. The housing and small business loans featured on Kiva share a common purpose: they alleviate conditions of poverty and enable families to lead more stable lives. Learn more

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