Adding to basket
Common ways of travel throughout rural areas in Guatemala are by colorful refurbished American “chicken buses”, motorcycle, or tuc-tuc (a 3-wheeled vehicle with a bench backseat). Thirty-one-year-old Lucia is married to a mechanic, and they have a five-year-old daughter in kindergarten. Lucia works with her husband on their cardamom farm, which they have had for six years. Three years ago, they opened another business from their home, selling spare parts for motorcycles and tuc-tucs. Lucia shares that her goals are to save money. This month, with her savings, she opened a purified water store. Her goals are to build the business, enlarge the farm, and generate more income. She is requesting her second Kiva loan to buy more spare parts.
Lucia was elected President of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank, “Almas Libres”. There are six other Maya Q’eqchi women in the group, and the majority are cardamom farmers. Lucia is fortunate to have her high school diploma, but most of the women have little or no formal education. A monthly educational training, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program, gives them the opportunity to participate in interactive training designed by a Facilitator who uses pictures, diagrams, role-playing, and games to share information about business, health, family, and women. Lucia has been very interested in learning as much as she can about savings, budgeting, prioritizing expenses, and keeping an accurate inventory.
Thank you, Kiva lenders!
In this group: Ana Maricelda, Juana , Lucia , Reyna , Sarbelia , Elvira , Amelia
