Tierra De Cristal Group

Thirty-nine-year-old Lilian recalls that her mother abandoned her, that she didn’t attend school, and she was raised by her grandparents. They thought that it wasn’t important for girls to go to school. She worked gathering wood and, as a street vendor, sold it along with fish and meat. 

Lilian married a security guard when she was nineteen. She is now the mother of three teenagers. The oldest graduated from high school, where he majored in mechanics, and the younger ones are in the fifth grade and high school. 

Nine years ago, she started selling used clothing that arrives at her house in a bale. She also sells caps. Lilian goes from house to house in nearby neighborhoods. She also makes/sells delicious regional snack foods made with tomato, cheese, lemon, and added spices. 

She works daily, and when she cannot work, her children attend to customers. Her goals are to give her younger children every opportunity she can and also to buy a piece of land to build her own home. She is living in a rented house in the department/state of Chimaltenango. Lilian requests her first Kiva loan to buy clothing, caps, and snack foods.

Nine women elected Lilian to be President of their Friendship Bridge Trust Bank, “Tierra de Cristal”. They participate in the Friendship Bridge “Microcredit Plus” program of loans, monthly educational training, and bi-monthly healthcare services. Note: This photo has been manipulated to protect the borrower's privacy.

Thank you, Kiva lenders!

In this group: Olga , Lilian Janeth , Rosa Maria , Leonor Marily , Maria Gabriela , Juliana , Dina Maclovia , Carmen Beatriz , Emma Beatriz , Fatima Belinda