El Horizonte Group

Small convenience stores are found everywhere in communities throughout rural Guatemala. Forty-eight-year-old Berta, a single mother who lives with her mother and a fourteen-year-old son, has a convenience store in a community in the department/state of Huehuetenango.

She grew up in a large family and is one of seven siblings. She attended school until the sixth grade, and then helped her mother care for sheep. Berta wants a different life for her son. She wants him to have a complete education that prepares him to have a successful career and enjoy a higher quality of life. She works hard at her store and also raises sheep and cattle. She is requesting her second Kiva loan to buy more products for the store such as snack foods, and beverages. Her goals are to increase the size of the store and offer more variety to her customers.

Berta is one of nine women who formed the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “El Horizonte”. These ladies work hard at their convenience stores, animal husbandry businesses, and vegetable sales. Since they have little or no formal education, they benefit greatly from monthly educational training (health, business, family, and women), part of the “Microcredit Plus” program. A Facilitator designs the training and uses pictures, diagrams, role-playing, and games to share the information. Often, the women share what they learn with family members and friends.

Thank you, Kiva lenders, for your kindness in funding these much-appreciated loans!

In this group: Lorena Elizabeth , Berta Orlanda, Marta Maricel, Delfina, Rosaura Oracili , Erlinda Yuceli , Juana , Isidra , Mariza Delsi