Costureras Clarenas Group

Clara, 40, is the mother of two children, ages 15 and 18, and shares that she only attended school for the first year due to poverty and growing up in a large family (nine siblings). She is very happy to see her children complete all six grades of school.

Clara is married to a tailor, and together they have been making cloth pants in the Sololá state for twenty-five years. The couple works on custom orders, delivering an average of three dozen pairs weekly. Alongside this business, Clara raises chickens that she sells from home. She hopes to expand her business, start selling traditional clothing, and improve her living conditions. Currently, Clara needs to apply for her sixth Kiva loan to buy a large quantity of fabric/thread, in addition to chickens.

Seven Maya K'iche' women make up the Friendship Bridge Community Bank Costureras Clarenas. They are very happy to participate in the Microcrédito Plus program, which offers loans, monthly educational training (family, business, women, health), and bimonthly health services (consultations, exams, family planning). A facilitator, who speaks their language, trains them, and uses images and games to share information. A visiting nurse visits their community every two months and makes these women feel comfortable.

Thank you, Kiva lenders, for your valuable loan that transforms families and communities!

In this group: Antonieta , Petrona, Clara , Teresa Eduviges, Amarilis Lourdes, Clara Floridalma, Susana

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerSoledad Merlo. View original language description.