A loan helped a member to purchase additional live chickens, fatten them up, butcher them and sell more meat.

Flores De Panimache Group's story

Panimaché meaning “the place of the big tree” is a small rural community in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. The population of the area speak “kiche” which is a Mayan language and very few speak Spanish. The community is a poor one and it is very evident that living conditions need to be improved. The eight women of the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank “Flores de Panimache” or “Flowers of Panimache” realize that they can empower themselves and make a difference in economic situation of their families. They have formed several small businesses. Some work in the production of handicrafts and traditional textiles while others work in animal husbandry and raise chickens, turkeys, pigs and cattle.

The group is starting its first loan cycle and each of the young women, who average 28 years of age, is most excited. Catalina is the 19-year-old Secretary of the Trust Bank who recently married. She lives with her husband’s family as is common in Guatemalan indigenous culture, especially in rural areas. Catalina anticipates having her own family and has a vision of a healthy and educated one, living in different conditions from the ones she grew up in. Catalina sells chickens once each week in a small local market. She wants to make a little extra income and sell a few more days each week. She is requesting a loan from Friendship Bridge that she will use to purchase additional live chickens, fatten them up, butcher them and sell more meat. She looks forward to attracting new customers, increasing her income and saving some money to get ready to take care of her yet unborn children.

The women of the “Flores de Panimaché” Trust Bank are most excited thinking about the possibilities that will come with their first loans. They have been participating in the educational training program of Friendship Bridge at their monthly meetings. A Loan Officer facilitates this part of the meetings and the ladies enhance their leadership skills, participate in group discussions and practice teamwork techniques. They discuss topics such as women’s health, self-esteem and leadership. They learn about women’s rights and violence against women. To help them with their loans and small businesses, they learn about business management and administration, budgeting, accounting and marketing. Finally, the ladies learn about the use of medicinal plants and nutrition. Friendship Bridge calls the combination of the small loans and educational trainings “Microcredit Plus”.

It is impossible for a poor indigenous woman in Guatemala to walk into a bank and secure a loan. Kiva investors are valuable partners with Friendship Bridge to these women. Thank you!

In this group: Juana, Nicolasa, Marta, Maria, Catalina Mercedes, Catalina, Adela, Anastasia

Loan details

Lenders and lending teams

Loan details