Indigenas De Pasis Group

At age 25, Manuela demonstrates that it always is possible to get ahead, despite difficulties in the road. She married her husband at age 14 and only attended primary school up to fourth grade. She is the  mother of three children (ages 8 to 11 years), all attending primary school. Her husband is a laborer, and she decided to start a business to support the household. For four years, she has sold new and second-hand traditional clothing, as well as bedding, as a street vendor and in her houses.  Manuela has help from her eldest daughter and a sister, and when there are harvests, she also works in the fields to generate extra income.

Manuela requests her second Kiva loan to buy traditional outfits, consisting of a “huipil" (blouse), “corte” (skirt) and a “faja” (sash), and bedding, especially for the Christmas season. Her goal is to strengthen her business and to have a shop where she can display her merchandise. 

Manuela is a member of  Friendship Bridge's communal bank  “Indígenas De Pasis”, with includes six other women who speak the  K’iche’ idiom and live in the department / state of Sololá. Most of them work selling traditional clothing and bedding. The  “Microcrédito Plus” program is important for these women because it provides monthly training. They learn about health, business, and family,  and are visited bi-monthly by a nurse who offers all types of basic services, consultations, and information. 

Thank you, Kiva lenders. 

In this group: Manuela, Antonia, Maria, Manuela Esquipulas , Catarina , Catarina, Feliciana

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerJoann S. View original language description.