4. In 1998, Friendship Bridge expanded our work to Guatemala, another war-ravaged suffering extreme poverty and offering limited opportunities to women .
5. Friendship Bridge transferred our Vietnam loan portfolio of $258,000 to local partners in 2000 and began focusing solely on Guatemala.
6. By 2003, almost 3,000 clients were borrowing from Friendship Bridge.
14. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America. • Per capita income is $5,200/year - half of the average for all Latin American and Caribbean countries • 76% of the indigenous population lives in poverty • 61% of Mayan women 15-64 are preliterate • 30% of primary-aged girls do not attend school • Less than 50% of girls attend secondary school Statistics from: CIA World Fact Book, August 2010; http://data.un.org,
56. Monthly Meeting Topics Jan: Preparing for school Feb & March: Self Esteem, health, nutrition April to Oct: Business and marketing Nov & Dec: Women’s empowerment & rights Each month at the end of the meeting the women make a monthly payment.
65. Friendship Bridge Statistics 74 total employees of FB in Guatemala 40 loan officers 8 supervisors 3 branch managers 6 paid staff members in US (Currently 13 Circles in US) The loan portfolio is generating enough interest to pay all salaries.
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68. Director of Credit Carlos Buitrago Finance Director & International Technology Asdrid Caitlin Education Director Roberto Human Resources Manager Rosemary Marta
113. FB Circle Fund Raising Activities Sell tipica at Arts & Crafts events (Rosamond, CA – Jane) 2. 1 large event/yr. Speaker, dinner & silent action 3. “Chicks with a Check” Each Circle member recruits at least 10 friends who agree to give $100/yr. (Wilmington, NC – Julia) 4. Fall music event Admission charge for an evening music-theme party/dance (Salsa, reggae, jazz, etc) Sell tipica. Auction selves for work projects. Local restaurant donates space. Pizza & beer is available to purchase. (Wheat Ridge, CO -Janet & Margie, Golden, CO - Betty) 5. Silent auction of selves Painting rooms, dinner with folk music, gardening, tour of Leadville, etc. 6. Book sale (labor intensive ) (Salida, CO – Ellen) 7. “Girls night out” Donation requested. Drawing for tipica, potluck of hordouvers 8. Used jewelry sale with food served. (Denver foothills, CO – Pixie) 9. Wine tasting 10. Used art auction silent auction Spring Building Bridges Gala: Denver Tickets $75. 100 silent auction items includes 13 entertainment items and 14 getaways.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Building bridges of Opportunities & empowerment
-Women’s rights are not encouraged by the government. Non-profits organizations like FB promote voting, participation in government & policy-making. -Family planning & reproductive rights. Catholic Church teachings is big issue. On average, families have 6 children.- The Evangelical Church is becoming a stronger presence in Guatemala.
-Women were to draw missing features & clothes on human figure. Then discussion about how they chose to portray their figure and their choice of clothes, who they may have chosen to draw. This was related to building of self esteem-Many decisions to make about your business and to think carefully about your choices-Choosing what to wear to present yourself to your customersChoosing your attitude-One mother at school prep meeting brought 7 yr old. When questioned why she didn’t have her in school, she said, “She is a woman now so she needs to do woman’s work.” After self-esteem meeting, she enrolled her daughter in school.
-Discuss consistency and quality of product, -Make product somehow better or in some way unique from your competition, fairness dependability to customers, (set-up in same area and at consistent times) Present yourself in a clean and respectful manner The husbands were suspicious if their wife left the house purposely cleaned up, but they came to understand the importance.
Xela – shay’ laFredrico - Male loan officer (only 3 male employees of FB)Juana – Loan officer has 7 children Has business as tortilla maker She rents a space and sells from her home.Has an 18 yr old deaf son. He is learning trade skills for carpentry & electrical.Learned signing with him at school and now plans to use that skill as an interpreter within schools.
Director of Credit: Develops loan structure, decides where loan banks are formed
When the monks brought the Catholic during the time of conquest, they instilled didactic evangelization, through sculptures representing Christ’s passion. Thus, Lenten events were amalgamated with the indigenous beliefs.
The first procession was in 1543.“Ofrendas”
Massive altar with statues is carried from a church, through decorated streets of town to a neighboring town.3 kil from to Antigua
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