networkfamily-blog

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 4 - Disbursement Meeting We witnessed a very important moment on Day 4. The disbursement meeting is when women commit to their loan and receive their check. Women in this group had diverse businesses, from stores, to selling fish or spices, to weaving, but they all had in common that that knew each other, and most had been with Friendship Bridge for about 9 years. As a way to strengthten their compromise, a ball of yarn was thrown between them, symbolizing that they are all connected and they are all one group. If one lets go of the string, the group starts to fall appart. This group has stayed strong for almost a decade, and they hope to continue like that for many more years.

[networkfamily-blog]

Scenery of Guatemala

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 3 - Friendship Bridge HQ

We had a chance to visit the office of Friendship Bridge, where we met some of the staff that make the magic happen.

One of the posters on the wall caught my attention because it talks about the 5 “Whys”, that when asked, help you get to the real root of a problem.

Besides doing micro loans and trainings for women’s businesses, Friendship Bridge also has a Health Program, an Agriculture Program, a School Help, and an Artisan Program

Some of the Leadership Team joined us for dinner, and they explained more in detail some of these programs:

● The Agriculture Program focuses on teaching women how to work the land, and rotate crops.

● The Health Program is a preventive program in which nurses visit the Circles formed by Friendship Bridge clients to provide some tests and care for them. Blood pressure and diabetes are the things they most commonly treat. In the case that one of the women require more specialized treatment, they will go with her to the hospital (usually in the capital) to assist them and translate for them. Education about health and their bodies is also provided. For some women, these moments when they can talk privately to a nurse are very importwnt becaude nurses also listen to them and their concerns.

● With the School Help, they receive aid to keep their children in school.

● The Artisan Program helps local manufacturers export their products, but we’ll talk more about it in a later post, since we had a chance to visit someone who is enrolled in the program the following day.

Another very important aspect of why Friendship Bridge works so well is the attention they pay to their employees' wellbeing and hapiness. ♡

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 3 - Peace Park and Home Visit

Sitting in Santiago Atitlan, is Parque de la Paz, a memorial of the massacre of 13 villagers on December 2, 1990, who resisted the armed troops that ocupied the city for several decades.

On the other side of the lake is Santa Catarina Palopo, where Olga M. (27) lives with her husband, and four children. Olga is a weaver and is already teaching the business to her eldest daughter, Olivia (13), who is currently in school. Olivia helps her mother take care of her siblings when she has to go out of town to get supplies, or to sell the pieces they create. Olga has a son who just started school, but is already producing high quality bracelets (purple ones pictured in this entry).

The loans that Friendship Bridge has given her have allowed her to slowly save some money. Her goal is to at least save one Quetzal per day, that way she’ll have some money at the end of the year.

Some of this money goes into her children’s education. Her daughter wants to become a Nurse or Doctor, and she fully supports her dreams.

Before we left, Olivia played for us a coupke of songs on her recorder.

Olga’s family is a great example that when we work together, we can achieve great things.

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 2 - Natural Dyes Demonstration We attended a natural dyes demonstraton where they explaines the whole process to produce one piece, from the moment they clean the cotton, to the actual weaving. We even had the chance to try out the spindle and the backstrap loom. Did you know that there are some plants that produce a different shade when they are cropped during a full Moon?

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 2 - Trust Funds. Why Do They Work? When receiving a micro loan from Friendship Bridge, women form a Trust Fund in which they all cooperate, motivate each other and hold each other accountable. Trust Funds rely on integrity and the belief that together, we are stronger. Groups from 10 to 25 members, including a president, secretary and treasurer are formed. The members decide on the rules themselves, so it's easier to remember and the sense of resonsibility is greater. We were fortunate enough to attend a Trust Fund, and some of the rules this groups set up are: ● Use your loan for your business, not for personal things. ● Come to the meetings (in the case of sickness they can visit the sick woman to collect her payment). ● Be punctual. ● Make your payments on time. What happens when one woman can't make her monthly payment? The other women in the group make the payment for her and she has to pay them back. Thankfully the group we visited is very compromised with each other and hasn't been in the situation. Some of the things these women make or sell are embroidery, huipiles, store, tortilleria, nets, jewelry, fish, and pretty much anything they can think of that will help them provide for their families.

[networkfamily-blog]

Lake Atitlan is one of the main sources of income in Guatemala. Local indigenous population regard it as one of their principal food sources in the area, but it also helps support a lot of the agriculture around it. The most common crops are coffee, corn, onion, avocado, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and pitahayas.

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 1 - The Impact Of Micro Loans We had the opportunity to make two home visits, Maria M. (63), and Micaela G. (36), and see for ourselves how these women live and sustain their families. As we spoke to Maria, who owns a small convenience store, we learned that thanks to the loan that Friendship Bridge gave her, she was able to build a room for her son. The room had just been finished and now she was looking to save money for the kitchen, because she currently has an open fire stove, which can be harmful because of the fumes, and requires a lot of wood. Even though she didn't have much access to education, with the micro loans she has been able to invest and grow her business. She was happy to let us know that currently all her grandchildren are going to school. Micaela (pictured above), sells fruits along with her family. Thanks to the micro loan she received, she was able to build a house for her family, and even buy some of the land that surrounds her house. This has helped her business because that land has some fruit trees. She only has enough education to be able to read and write, but her current goal is sending all her children to school.

[networkfamily-blog]

Day 1 Our first stop was Museo Ixchel, where they have an exhibition of traditional clothing and textiles. Did you know that it can take up to six months to make one piece?

[networkfamily-blog]

D-1 Gallery

[networkfamily-blog]

D-1

On the night we arrived to Guatemala, we had a dinner to meet everyone who was already in. Some of the staff from Friendship Bridge went with us, including Carolina Roca.

During dinner she explained to us a bit of the history of Guatemala and how it has impacted the country's development. Learning about the differences between precolombian Mayan traditions, the Spanish-introduced customs, and how they mix together is key to understanding the current state of Guatemala.

Social segregation, gender inequality, difference in languages, and a delicate education system contribute to the country's poverty.

Friendship Bridge knows this, so not only do they give micro loans to local women, but they also provide educational modules with information that is relevant to them as women, as heads of families, business owners, and leaders of their community.

[networkfamily-blog]

The Network Family of Companies has chosen to make an investment in Capital Sisters. Their mission, and ours, is to connect impoverished women in developing countries who need tiny business loans with investors willing to provide them. Investing in one woman’s micro enterprise improves an average of five lives. Capital Sisters advances the economic empowerment of women through entrepreneurship.

Follow our adventure as we travel to Guatemala to meet empowered women that chose to fight poverty and build a better life for them, and their families.

There is a link on the right bar (or bottom of the blog if you are on mobile) where you can Follow Our Footsteps to see where our travel takes us. We’ll be sharing photos and comments regarding the Insight Trip on this blog, so you too can witness the positive impact that helping others has. 

We hope our enthusiasm will encourage others to participate in this very worthwhile endeavor!