Las Pilas Group

Twenty-four-year-old Catherin is thrilled to be eight months pregnant with her second child. Her first child is four years old. She attended school for nine years and then married her husband, who is a weaver of traditional skirts called “cortes”. Four years ago, she joined him in the business, and together they can finish three “cortes” each week. They sell by custom order only. Catherin is requesting her first Kiva loan to buy another loom and various colors of thread. They want to increase production and be able to add an employee from their community.

Catherin joined eight other Maya K’iche women who live in the department/state of Quiche and recently formed the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Las Pilas”. The majority of them are weavers, while a few others have convenience stores or raise domestic livestock and poultry. In a short amount of time, they will begin participating in monthly educational training, part of the “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, education, and healthcare. Topics for the training will range from health, family matters, and women’s issues to effective business management practices, including planning, budgeting, advertising on social media, and savings. Every other month, they will have access to basic healthcare services delivered by a traveling nurse who will offer exams, consults, and family planning.

Catherin shares, "Thank you, Kiva lenders!"

In this group: Isabel , Isabel Fransi, Micaela , Rutilia Carmelina, Francisca, Catherin Izabel , Maria Cristina, Odilia Lisset, Magdalena