Luz Divina Group
A loan of $6,725 helps a member to buy a large quantity of thread, and feed for her chickens and turkeys.
Luz Divina Group's story
Thirty-five-year-old Maria is an empowered, single woman who lives in her own home and has two businesses. She weaves traditional blouses called “huipiles” with intricate designs, a business she started 15 years ago. She employs three women, who help her fill orders. Every month, she can deliver four “huipiles". Maria also raises chickens and turkeys and sells them from her home and in the local market in the department/state of Quiche. She requests her twelfth Kiva loan to buy a large quantity of thread as well as feed for her poultry.
Maria joined six other Maya K’iche women and formed the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Luz Divina”. The majority of them have the same businesses as Maria. They benefit greatly from monthly educational training, part of the Microcredit Plus program of loans: education (business, family, women, health) and bi-monthly healthcare services (exams, consults, family planning). The program is essential for the success of these women because they cannot get a loan from a bank, have little or no formal education, and healthcare services can be challenging or impossible to access in their community.
Kiva lenders, partnering with Friendship Bridge, give Maria and her friends real hope for a more prosperous future. Thank you to each of you for lending a helping hand!
The photograph has been altered to protect the borrower's privacy
In this group: Virgilia Manuela, Juana, Lucia, Maria Elena , Elizabeth Dominga , Jacinta Carolina , Tomasa Margo