Nineteen-year-old Santos is already a very empowered young woman. She is single and graduated from school the last November as an accountant! Now, she is working towards her goal of having a professional job. In order to do this, she is continuing to maintain her weaving business that she developed in 2020, while living with her parents, to support her education. She weaves beautiful wrap-around skirts or "cortes", producing about 3 per week. Santos is requesting her 1st Kiva loan to buy thread that she will use to weave more “cortes”. When she is able to get a professional position, Santos plans to give her business to one of her siblings.

Along with 7 other Maya K’iche ladies, Santos belongs to the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank "San Miguel Arcangel", located in a rural area of the department of Quiche. She is the secretary and takes the minutes of the monthly meetings when the ladies make loan payments for their textile, animal husbandry (pigs, chickens), and regional “snack” businesses. At each meeting, a facilitator provides an educational session, as part of the "Microcredit Plus" program of small loans, education, and health care services. During this month's session, the facilitator, using games, role-playing, photos and diagrams, provided an important session on how to develop strong self-esteem. (The child in the photograph is the son of one of the borrowers who authorizes him to appear in it).

Thank you, KIVA investors, for your generous support!