Jesus Group

Lucía, with nine years of education, is a married artisan, twenty-eight years old. She lives in a rural area of the department/state of Sololá. Her spouse is a driver of extra-urban buses. The couple has two children, ages six and twelve, first- and sixth-grade students.

Lucía has embroidered and machine sewn decorations for traditional blouses for six years. She works to order and with personalized designs. With her fifth Kiva loan, Lucía can purchase more fabric, thread, and iridescent beads.

There are eight women who know each other and participate in Friendship Bridge's Microcrédito Plus program, which offers loans, education, and health services. Their communal bank is named Jesus. They embroider, machine sew, have businesses making corn tortillas, and sell firewood and chicken by the pound. The women are proud Maya Tzutuhil descendants in their zone. They look forward to their monthly meetings to offer mutual support, make their loan payments, and participate in interactive educational sessions designed by a facilitator who uses images, diagrams, role playing, and games to share information. The topics are relevant to their lives and come from four areas: business, health, family, and women. Every two months, they have the opportunity to be visited by a nurse who speaks their language and offers all sorts of exams and consultations.

Thank you, Kiva lenders, for your generosity in financing these loans. 

In this group: Heriberta , Lucia Yessica , Maria , Lucia , Elena Alicia , Clara Beronica , Maria Elena , Sarbelia

Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteerWendy H. View original language description.