Mujeres Hortencias Group

Traditionally, Maya girls have been taught to weave on backstrap or floor looms from a young age. Often, in order to help their parents cover household expenses, they work and are unable to go to school. This has been slowly changing, and they are able to both weave and attend school.

Maria, a 53-year-old, married mother of five children (17-25) works along with her husband in a small weaving workshop. She has four floor looms used to fabricate colorful traditional textiles, often with intricate designs. She requests her first Kiva loan to buy another floor loom and a large quantity of high quality thread in various colors.

Maria is the president of her Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Mujeres Hortencias” in the department/state of Quiche. “Hortensias,” or hydrangeas, are one of the many colorful flowers grown in Guatemala.

There are eight other ladies in the group who meet monthly to support each other, make loan payments and participate in educational sessions, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education and health care services. Topics include essential information about health, business, family matters and women’s issues. Maria shares, “These subjects are really important for us and the management of our businesses.” Every other month, the women have access to basic health care services.

These ladies are excited to invest in their traditional textile and animal husbandry businesses. Thank you, Kiva lenders, for lending a helping hand!