Luz de mi Sendero Trust Bank
Location:  Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala
Loan cycles:  1
Members:  8
Average age of members:  35 years
Average member school level:  4
Average loan size: $240

Santa Cruz, the capital of the department (state) of Quiche, is a metropolis nestled in the Chuacús Mountains and surrounded by several small towns. The city serves as a marketplace where corn, beans and livestock are commonly sold. In this environment, the Luz de mi Sendero Trust Bank was formed with eight members in their first-ever loan cycle. These women all make their living by selling in the marketplace. Their goods include tortillas, pastries and meals as well as clothes.

Although new to the concept of microfinance loans, these women are already working on future goals. The group began as close friends and they expect to work together long-term. Despite having different businesses, Elena Viviana says, ‘When one of us proposes something, we can get it done together!”

With only five years of primary school and five children, Elena set up a food business. She responded quickly when a loan officer asked when they were going to start going after what they want. “Now!” she said enthusiastically. “I want to grow my business,” she says. “I can do this with the help of Friendship Bridge.” She is thankful and does not think she could expand her business without the capital provided through Friendship Bridge.

Marta Raymundo is another member of the Trust Bank. A teacher, she believes strongly in education. “A lot of times there is not an opportunity for education. It is not okay because we have a right to education.” She explains her motivation:

“If we do not know, we cannot act. We need to know to live.”

The others nod in agreement. The lessons they are learning are investments in their quality of life. “We are already empowered!”

 

Maya and Adrienne from Boulder, Colo., are working in Guatemala through the end of July as interns for Friendship Bridge, preparing reports for KIVA. They love traveling, exploring new places, speaking Spanish and playing music.  

When traveling, rarely does time feel like it passes slowly. However, here in Panajachel, we feel as if we have been here for weeks. Maybe it’s because of the numerous incredible people we have met; or maybe it’s because of how different every day is here.  Our first week with Friendship Bridge has come to an end, and we feel as if we’ve learned weeks’ worth of wisdom.

Within just one week we have met 24 different and inspiring local women; and have traveled to three unique communities. Although this week has been long and exhausting from the travel and acclimation, it is all worth it.

We are excited about our work this week! We will travel alone to communities to meet with a loan officer and accompany the officer to the Friendship Bridge meetings. There, we will use a standard set of questions to ask for KIVA and many photos to take. Even though it will be nerve racking to no longer be the shadow of a trained employee, we feel ready for the responsibility! Serving as a direct link between these women and the organization is a huge responsibility – as well as finding our way along the challenging bus system!

It seems to us that this responsibility is a sign of trust from Friendship Bridge, and we are excited to earn that trust.

 

 

Maya  and Adrienne from Boulder, Colo., are working in Guatemala through the end of July as interns for Friendship Bridge. They love traveling, exploring new places, speaking Spanish and playing music. Both have traveled extensively in Central and South America. This is the first of several blogs as they share interaction with the clients of Friendship Bridge in reports for KIVA.

Bienvenidos a Panajachel!

Imagine sitting in a kitchen of adobe walls with a group of eight women bantering in languages that you not only can’t understand, but have never heard. The simple task of “taking notes” becomes very complicated in this situation. Our coordinator and mentor, Marta, leans over to us every 10 minutes to give us a vague idea of the conversation taking place. We sit there dazed and confused; however, we appreciate the little that we do understand. We take in much more than words. We understand their laughter, and we admire their perseverance to grow their businesses despite the obstacles they encounter.

We met a woman who, without local education, has not only raised two children alone but is also creating a successful business in cosmetics and clothing. She sits among a group of seven other individuals. Each of them come from different backgrounds and will advance to different futures. The common ground they share is that they each are motivated to improve their circumstances through this opportunity that is being provided through Friendship Bridge. They sit quietly as we ask them a set of standard questions.

Although it is slightly intimidating to enter foreign communities to meet these groups of women, we realized what an incredible opportunity it is to be invited into their lives.

Without this internship we would never have seen the amazing lifestyles of so many different cultures. We have only been in Panajachel for a little over a week but it feels like much longer. We have explored and learned so much as a part of Friendship Bridge and have become friends with the other employees in the office. We feel at home.

 

 

[do action=”image-right”]2014/06/SantosQGrandson.jpg[/do] Santos Ajiquichi Quisquina
Age: 42 years old
Marital Status: separated
Number of children: 2, 1 grandchild
Loan cycle: 2^nd
Loan Amount: $246
Trust Bank: Eight members
Location: Canton El Tablon, Sololá Guatemala
Business: Artisan weaver

Santos Ajiquichi Quisquina, is an artisan weaver currently in her second loan cycle with Friendship Bridge.  She hand weaves beautiful textiles on a back strap loom for customers and tourists in local community.  She creates textile patterns reminiscent of a more traditional pattern that existed in her community years ago, but regaining popularity.

Santos’ story of empowerment is like that of many clients helped by Friendship Bridge. Rather than stay in a bad marriage, Santos left an abusive husband to care for her daughter and grandson with money earned from weaving, made possible by a micro-loan.

More than 22,000 women and their families in rural areas are using Friendship Bridge loans and education to enhance their businesses.  Santos lives in the ​​Sololá area in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. It is one of the larger, more prominent communities near Lake Atitlan.

Santos says that her microloans have given her a new sense of independence. “I’m very proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish on my own.  It’s a good feeling.”

Her Trust Bank is comprised of eight members with an average age of 44 years and an average formal education of 1.6 years.  On average, they have four children per member and varied businesses including bakeries, flowers, vegetables, tortillas, snacks and concessions, convenience stores, avocados, and handicrafts. The average loan of $378 goes directly into these businesses.

Thanks to loans made possible from our partnership with ShareBrands, Santos can continue to make life better for herself and her family.

 

[do action=”image-right”]2014/05/GT-President-in-FB-cap.jpg[/do]On May 23 the city of Huehuetenango hosted a second annual Microfinance Fair in Guatemala.  Approximately 10 microfinance institutions, including Friendship Bridge, participated in the fair where festivities were kicked off by Guatemalan President, Otto Perez Molina, who addressed the crowd as the day began.  Following his opening remarks, the President then mingled with participants and guests.  When he passed by Friendship Bridge’s booth, Branch Manager Maria Delfina Lopez Mendez put the cap on the President’s head and he posed for the picture seen here.  Besides befriending the President of Guatemala, Friendship Bridge made 150 new contacts with potential clients – a very successful day!

Now, simply shopping at Amazon can result in a gift to Friendship Bridge.  The AmazonSmile program is the reason.

The AmazonSmile Foundation is Amazon’s giving arm of operation.  It was created by Amazon to allow its customers to designate the charitable organizations to which Amazon will give.  Via AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization.

To support Friendship Bridge the next time you shop at Amazon, begin your shopping by going to smile.amazon.com.  The first time you visit, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization.  Type “Friendship Bridge” in the search box and press the Search button.  Select Friendship Bridge from the results list and begin shopping as usual.  Note you will not be allowed to shop at AmazonSmile until you designate a charitable organization.  Also you will need to shop at the AmazonSmile website (smile.amazon.com) in order for a donation to be made.

You may want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it easier to return to do your Amazon shopping.  Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registries, and other account settings on Amazon.com will carry over.

Each time you shop at AmazonSmile, a donation of 0.5% of your eligible purchases will automatically be made and collected by Amazon for delivery to Friendship Bridge.  All expenses will be paid by Amazon.  And we will receive the funds on a quarterly basis.  So get shopping!

[do action=”image-right”]2013/06/TravelGuatemalaLakeAtitlan-300×169.jpg[/do]Bi-annually, when the weather is best in Guatemala, Friendship Bridge guides a tour of Lake Atitlán and the surrounding communities where our clients live and work.  The experience is called an Insight Trip and our Fall trip is scheduled for November 9-15, 2014.  It is an amazing journey of discovery as we travel through areas extraordinarily rich in culture and natural beauty.  Lake Atitlán is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

While an exact itinerary has not been finalized, Insight Trips typically involve visits to Friendship Bridge clients’ homes and businesses, a boat ride on Lake Atitlán, interesting demonstrations of local weaving and dying techniques, and opportunities to learn about the indigenous Mayan culture.  Likely, you and 12 fellow travelers will fly into Guatemala City and travel to Antigua; spend the next four days in Friendship Bridge-guided activities like those mentioned above; have a free day to explore the ruins, markets, and city of Antigua; and travel back to Guatemala City to head home.

Insight Trips are $1,500 per person which includes ground transportation, most meals, and double-occupancy lodging.  An initial non-refundable deposit of $250 is required, plus two more payments prior to the trip.  Experience the culture and beauty of Guatemala while seeing first-hand the impact Friendship Bridge has on the lives of women, their families, and their communities.  We’d love to be your guide.

Friendship Bridge’s 2014 Building Bridges Gala, at Mile High Station on April 24, was a wonderful evening shared by friends, celebrating our clients, and contributing critical dollars for microloans and education to impoverished women in Guatemala. We raised nearly $100,000 toward our goal and made more per person this year than we have in previous years.  Plus it was a lot of fun!

[do action=”image-right”]2014/05/sparkly-big-picture-2-square.jpg[/do]Those who attended the Gala got the chance to meet Friendship Bridge client, Petrona Cumes Matzar as she demonstrated the art of weaving on her backstrap loom.  All of the exquisite textiles for sale at the event were handmade by Petrona and other Friendship Bridge clients.  If you did not get the chance to purchase one of their lovely pieces, you will have another opportunity the evening of June 5, 2014 at the Boulder Hub.  Stay tuned for more information on this artisan sale!

Due to the talents of award-winning auctioneer, Shawn Hagler and his team, the live auction was another highlight of the evening.  Shawn had everyone’s attention as he adeptly auctioned dream vacations to Cabo and Italy, an heirloom quality quilt made from vintage Guatemalan fabrics, a guided fly fishing trip, and a festively painted wheelbarrow full of local craft beer!

Otherwise guests enjoyed tapas and beverages while wandering the Guatemalan Market and silent auction.  Conversations were lively and the live marimba music and ambiance of Mile High Station were a perfect backdrop for promoting a good cause.  Next year’s Gala, which will likely be at a different venue, has a lot to live up to.  We hope to see you there!

In April, Friendship Bridge was acknowledged for its leadership in the use of Social Performance Management (SPM) by two organizations that are leading the way in promoting the importance of SPM in the microfinance industry:  Grameen Foundation and MIX.

[do action=”image-right”]2014/05/PPI_logo-2-e1399657692416.png[/do]In its recent report, 2014 Global Report on Poverty Measurement with the Progress Out of Poverty Index, Grameen Foundation highlighted Friendship Bridge along with seven other organizations who exemplify best practices using the Progress Out of Poverty Index (PPI), a poverty measurement tool for organizations with a mission to serve the poor.  Nearly three quarters of PPI users (142) are MFIs.  Friendship Bridge was an early user of the tool, evincing our commitment to serving our clients in the best ways possible.

[do action=”image-right”]2014/05/MIX-Market-logo-2-e1399658803321.png[/do]MIX has long promoted transparency among microfinance organizations regarding their financial performance.  With the increased use of SPM in the industry, they recently began corroborating the social performance of MFIs as well.  Friendship Bridge is one of the first 24 recipients of their brand new STAR (Socially Transparent and Responsible) Recognition.  Two hundred organizations participated.  Friendship Bridge is also the first organization to receive recognition in Central America.  STAR Recognition is awarded to MFIs that have achieved a high level of compliance with the Social Performance Task Force’s (SPTF) Universal Standards of Social Performance Management (USSPM) as evidenced by the documentation provided by each MFI.  Environmental protection policies (not covered by the USSPM) are considered as well.  Source: http://www.mixmarket.org/sites/default/files/star_factsheet_final_en.pdf)