Adding to basket
It has been common in rural areas of Guatemala for fathers to tell their daughters that they don’t need an education.. This is what happened to Rosa and her six sisters, who attended school for six years. Rosa’s brothers got a complete education.
Rosa is now fifty-seven, married to a mechanic, and they have two grown children and two grandchildren. Twenty-five years ago, Rosa opened her traditional textile business, weaving/embroidering blouses/”huipiles”, wrap-around skirts/”cortes”, and aprons/”delantales” that she sells from her home and in the local market in the department/state of Quetzaltenango.
Two years ago, she opened another business from a room in her home. In her variety store, Rosa offers casual and sports clothing, jewelry, and perfume.
Her goals are to increase the size of the businesses and earn more income. She requests her first Kiva loan to buy fabric, thread, and decor. The national holidays or “fiestas patrias” are fast approaching.
Rosa is President of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Gladiolas de Pachaj 2”. There are six other Maya K’iche women in the group who have traditional textile businesses and make backpacks.
They happily participate in the Friendship Bridge “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, monthly educational training (business, health, women, family), and bi-monthly healthcare services (exams, consults, family planning).
Rosa and her friends thank Kiva lenders for learning about them and their businesses.
In this group: Rosa Graciela, Macaria , Catarina Noemi , Macaria Felipa , Gloria , Erika Yadira Nohemi, Maria Sebastiana
