Mujeres De Chipuac Group

The colorful traditional textiles of the Maya are proudly worn in many departments in Guatemala and admired by textile fans throughout the world. They are woven on floor looms or backstrap looms. Thirty-seven-year-old Marta, a mother of two children who are seven and twenty years old, opened her weaving business eight years ago. She weaves on a floor or treadle loom and has two employees. She delivers six pieces every week. Five years ago, she added another business, embroidering traditional blouses (“huipiles”), and only takes custom orders. Her goals are to enlarge the business, obtain more looms, and be able to employ more people from her community in the department/state of Totonicapán. With her first Kiva loan, she hopes to buy fabric and thread.

Marta is Treasurer of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Mujeres de Chipuac.” Six women are members of the group, and they all work at their traditional textile business. Many are like Marta, who only has a sixth-grade education, so they learn a great deal from monthly educational training, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education, and healthcare. Recent topics for the interactive training have been about hygiene and business administration. Other topics concern nutrition, health, family matters, and women’s issues. Every other month, they have access to healthcare services, including exams, consultations, and family planning.

Thank you, Kiva lenders, for your kindness in funding these much-appreciated loans!

In this group: Magdalena, Marta Celestina, Irma Antonieta, Juana Cristina, Juana Aracely, Maria Hermelinda , Maria Magdalena