Fuente De La Esperanza Group

The President of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank "Fuente de la Esperanza" is 34-year-old Angelica, who is married and has five children (ages 3-16). She has only a first grade education, and is proud that four of her children attend school (in the second to ninth grades). Angelica's husband owns a barber shop. In order to generate income for her children's education, because education is not free in Guatemala, Angelica rents a shop to make tortillas and sell snacks, toasted corn drinks called "atoles" and ceviche. She is requesting a second Kiva loan to buy firewood and corn for her tortilla business.

The members of "Fuente de la Esperanza" live in a rural area in the department of Suchitepéquez. Some of the group speak Maya K'iche' and Spanish, and others speak only Spanish. Their average education is about the fourth grade. They meet monthly to make loan payments and participate in educational sessions. The ladies learn about good business management practices for their businesses, selling chicken by the pound, tamales, pork, ceviche, snacks, hammocks, or crocheted bags. The sessions are a part of the "Microcredit Plus" program of loans, education, and healthcare services. Angelica shares that she enjoys learning about good customer service by implementing home delivery to develop more customers. She also likes learning how to develop more businesses.

From the women of "Fuente de la Esperanza", a huge “thank you” goes to each of you for supporting their business development!