Las Empoderadas Group

On the shores of the majestic Lago de Atitlán, located in the department/state of Sololá, Sandra has built her own path with effort and perseverance. She is thirty-six years old, married to a day laborer, and has three children, twelve-year-old twins who are in third grade, and an older child who is thirteen and in fifth grade. Sandra only finished second grade.

For twenty years, she has operated a convenience store in a retail space she owns, where she sells products for daily consumption, beverages, snacks, casual clothing, and jewelry. In addition she sells prepared beverages at a small stand on the lakeshore, a family business she inherited fourteen years ago. Her children also support her in the business.

Sandra asks for her fifth Kiva loan to purchase more staple products, beverages, snacks and jewelry, wholesale. Her goal is to continue strengthening and increasing her income to offer her family a better future.

The eight Maya Kaqchikel women form part of Friendship Bridge's Las Empoderadas communal bank. They sell tortillas, flowerpots, and cooking utensils, make crafts, and operate convenience stores. They feel fortunate to participate in the Microcrédito Plus program which offers loans, monthly educational training (health, family, women, businesses) and bimonthly health services (consults, exams, family planning).

The women are very grateful to the Kiva lenders.

In this group: Eva , Clara Celia , Virginia , Sandra Elizabeth , Venancia Rosalinda , Blanca Azucena , Aura Estela , Maria Elena

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