Adding to basket
Eighteen-year-old Maritza, the mother of a 4-month-old son, is married to a bus driver. She attended school for six years in the department/state of San Marcos.
Three years ago, she opened a business selling ice and regional appetizers, such as taquitos, tostadas, and platanos fritos (fried bananas), every afternoon as a street vendor. Her mother helps her with the business. She wants to expand the business to increase her income to cover personal and household expenses. Maritza plans to buy ingredients for her recipes with her first Kiva loan.
Maritza is one of seven Spanish-speaking women in the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank, “El Limonar” or “The Lemon Grove”. Many of these ladies have the same businesses as Maritza, while others sell lotions.
Since they have little or no formal education, monthly educational interactive training, designed by a facilitator, enables them to learn about everyday subjects such as health, nutrition, hygiene, the use of medicinal plants, as well as effective management practices, savings, prioritizing expenses, and more. The facilitator uses pictures, diagrams, role-playing, and games to share the information. Often, they can apply what they learn immediately or share it with family members and friends.
Thank you, Kiva lenders, for your kindness in funding these much-needed loans! Maritza and her friends are creating pathways toward more successful futures!
In this group: Zeyda Hirolinda , Yosselin Gabriela, Norma Patricia, Lorena Patricia , Alexis Amarilis , Maritza Elizabeth , Rosa Alba
