Recently we had the pleasure of visiting with NamasteDirect funded borrower, Maria Asuncion of Jocotenango. In 2007 she heard from a friend that Namaste partner FAPE had a loan group called “Banco Flor Del Frijol” in the town of Pastores, a 20-minute bus ride to the north. Maria soon joined the group and took out a loan of 1,000Q ($133). She used it for operating capital to open a home business. Every day she took a bus into Antigua, about a 15-minute ride to the south, and purchased fruits and vegetables to sell in Joco. She also made and sold tortillas to go along with the produce. Her business was profitable and she was content.
Her business life changed when she attended the Annual NamasteDirect Businesswomen’s Conference at Lake Atitlan last November. She told us “I learned that it was not only possible but that I really needed to grow. We were shown the steps to take and I returned home determined to do so.”
Like a true entrepreneur, she looked around for a business opportunity. She noted on her biweekly trips to the bank meetings in Pastores that the village was short of restaurants. So she enrolled her daughter, Sandra Rivera, who had also become a bank member, to launch a “to-go” sandwich place. To raise the 5,000Q ($667) needed to rent a place at 500Q per month, do some remodeling, acquire a refrigerator, a cook stove, utensils and food inventory, Maria took out a new loan for 1,500Q from FAPE and daughter Sandra did likewise to the tune of 1,000Q. They “raided” the family savings with the consent of Papa for the balance and talked him into building the rustic furniture needed.
They had only been open a month when we visited and Maria said, “It’s too early to tell how good the business will be.” But she is smelling success and has already determined what her next loan will go for – a chicken business because, she said, “I also went to the animal husbandry classes at the conference and raising chickens looks like a good bet!”
Maria has maintained her original business in Joco along with the new business. A year from now she should be well along with her third, giving her something of a “mini-conglomerate.” It is so much fun to see what great things these women can do when given the opportunity for a loan and some training!
Her business life changed when she attended the Annual NamasteDirect Businesswomen’s Conference at Lake Atitlan last November. She told us “I learned that it was not only possible but that I really needed to grow. We were shown the steps to take and I returned home determined to do so.”
Like a true entrepreneur, she looked around for a business opportunity. She noted on her biweekly trips to the bank meetings in Pastores that the village was short of restaurants. So she enrolled her daughter, Sandra Rivera, who had also become a bank member, to launch a “to-go” sandwich place. To raise the 5,000Q ($667) needed to rent a place at 500Q per month, do some remodeling, acquire a refrigerator, a cook stove, utensils and food inventory, Maria took out a new loan for 1,500Q from FAPE and daughter Sandra did likewise to the tune of 1,000Q. They “raided” the family savings with the consent of Papa for the balance and talked him into building the rustic furniture needed.
They had only been open a month when we visited and Maria said, “It’s too early to tell how good the business will be.” But she is smelling success and has already determined what her next loan will go for – a chicken business because, she said, “I also went to the animal husbandry classes at the conference and raising chickens looks like a good bet!”
Maria has maintained her original business in Joco along with the new business. A year from now she should be well along with her third, giving her something of a “mini-conglomerate.” It is so much fun to see what great things these women can do when given the opportunity for a loan and some training!
