Adding to basket
Historically, most young Mayan girls have not been encouraged to attend school. It is unusual for a young woman such as Cristina, who is 20 years old and only attended school for one year, to finish high school.
Cristina is single and lives with her parents. For eight years, she has been able to manage a convenience store. At the same time, Cristina also supports her parents by growing corn, beans and cardamom. She is applying for her first Kiva loan to purchase inventory to fill the shelves of her store.
Cristina is one of the nine Q'eqchi Maya women who make up the Las Orquídeas [the orchids] Puente de Amistad [Friendship Bridge] communal bank which is located in the department of Quiché. These women meet on a monthly basis to make loan payments and participate in educational talks led by a facilitator. Business management topics, along with savings, investment and marketing training, are also offered.
These meetings help the women with their farming businesses and stores that sell everyday consumer goods. Through dramatizations, games and diagrams, the facilitator engages women who have little or no formal education. The educational talks are part of the Microcredit Plus program, which consists of loans, education and health services.
Kiva lenders are a key element in the success of these women and their quest to create a better future. Thank you very much to each of them!
In this group: Modesta , Santos , Cristina , Norma Roxana , Candelaria , Ericka , Catalina , Maria , Blandina
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Nicole Efros. View original language description.
