Adding to basket
In the Nueva Esperanza community on the outskirts of the city of Patulul in the West Coast of Guatemala, where the climate is hot and coffee, fruit, sugarcane, and other items vital to the global economy are mass-produced, live the seven women of “Nueva Esperanza Patulul”, or “New Hope Patulul”, trust bank.
Maria, a woman with a warm and joyful spirit, is the elected treasurer of her group. She is 31 years of age and has a 9th grade education. With three children, ages 13, 10 and 3 and the two oldest studying in the local school, Maria is a mother and a business woman. She sells a variety of delicious foods on the street corners of her community. Week to week, her customers demand traditional “chuchitos” and tamales and chile rellenos with atol. In addition, she also raises ducks on her small property.
Maria plans to invest her loan in buying more animals, such as chickens, to expand her animal husbandry business, and also ingredients for her food sales. All of her work is for her children. This woman is dedicated to the success of her family, striving toward the best quality of life she can reach and overcoming poverty through her business efforts, with the support of Friendship Bridge and Kiva.
All of the ladies in this trust bank have children or grandchildren studying in primary and secondary school, working with their spouses to provide quality life for their families. To bring income to their families, these women run tortillerías, raise ducks and chickens, sell food and snacks such as icees, smoothies and tamales, and sell used clothing
In their first loan cycle as a part of Friendship Bridge, the women of Nueva Esperanza are very excited to start a journey of growth and prosperity in their businesses, moving forward and expanding their horizons with this opportunity. Thank you, Kiva, for making them capable of fulfilling their beautiful dreams!
In this group: Maria Josefa, Celina, Jania Rafaela, Meryssa, Margarita Magdalena, Balvina, Isabel
