Violetas De San Francisco Group

In rural communities, many women discover that the only way to assure a better future is to create their own opportunities. Ruth is an example of this effort.

She is 45 years old, married and the mother of seven children from 16 to 30 years old. Two are still in ninth grade and one is about to finish medical school.

Ruth was not able to study, because she lost her father and had to work since she was ten years old. Her husband is a driver. She has also raised creole chickens and pigs for 30 years, which allows her to maintain her income.

She started growing coffee 10 years ago, an activity she does with her children’s support. Ruth is requesting her first Kiva loan to buy seeds, fertilizers and wood to improve her animals’ sheds. Her goal is to increase her crops, to have more animals and to generate income to purchase land where her children can work in the future.

Eight women from the State of Huehuetenango formed the Friendship Bridge Communal Bank “Violetas de San Francisco”.  The "Microcrédito Plus" program allows women to participate in monthly trainings about businesses, health, family and women’s subjects. These women work selling fruits, ice cream, folk napkins, sale of chicken by the pound, raising domestic animals and growing coffee. These women also benefit every two months with access to basic health services.

Thanks, Kiva lenders.

In this group: Ruth Magali , Norma Asuncion , Martha , Blanca Lizeth, Maria Elena , Griselda Maribel, Eluvia Beatriz, Vicky Maria

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerPatricia Mueller. View original language description.