Flor Del Quetzal Group

“Fast food” in rural communities is different from that found in fast food restaurants in North America. Cooking tacos on a food cart on the street is a viable way that many Maya women with little or no formal education can earn a living.

Twenty-six-year-old Maria, a single mother of a 4-year-old daughter, cooks tacos on her food cart. She has operated the business for three years. She also works in a shopping center and has three employees who attend to her food cart. Her goals are to formalize her business and offer her customers the convenience/comfort of chairs and tables. She is also setting aside income for the continuing education of her daughter, who is in kindergarten. Maria requests her first Kiva loan to buy meat, corn and other ingredients for her tacos, as well as gas for her grill.

Maria has joined nine women to participate in the “Microcredit Plus” program of Friendship Bridge. Their Trust Bank is called “Flor Del Quetzal.” (A “Quetzal” is a beautiful bird with brilliant green plumage and a red breast.) They live in the department/state of San Marcos and sell chicken by the pound, casual clothing, shoes and prepared foods. Many of the ladies are like Maria, who has six years of formal education, while others have no education at all. Their monthly educational training is designed by a Facilitator who shares information about business administration, savings, care of the environment, as well as health, family matters and women’s issues.

Thank you!

In this group: Astrid Veronica , Maria Guadalupe, Roselin Liseth , Krisly Yamel , Yeniffer Liliana , Lilan Beatriz, Dalia Yesenia , Marta Estela, Miriam Amanda , Evelin Roxana