Milpa Cruz Chut Group

Maria is 22 years old and a young married mother of a 3-year-old son, living in the department/state of Quiche. She is a member of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank, Milpa Cruz Chut. Two times weekly, Maria travels to nearby markets to sell beans, corn, and cardamon. She grows all three crops and works hard to harvest a healthy crop and create an income. Maria is requesting her second Kiva loan to pay for organic fertilizer and cardamom seeds at the wholesale level.

Maria and her seven friends in the Trust Bank speak Maya Poqomchi. Their shared goals are to eliminate poverty and empower themselves. They are all farmers growing cardamom, coffee, corn, and beans. These crops are all popular in the area, and the ladies sell both inside and outside of their community.

Although none of them have gone to school, they benefit greatly from their monthly educational training, part of the Microcredit Plus program of loans, education, and healthcare services. This month, the women learned about the importance of saving for unexpected emergencies. Topics are drawn from four areas: business, health, family, and women. The training is designed by a facilitator who speaks their Maya Poqomchi language and uses pictures, diagrams, role playing, and games to share the information. The women are eager to learn and often share the information with family and friends.

Thank you, Kiva investors, for your valued participation in the lives of Maria and her friends!