{"id":42851,"date":"2018-02-14T17:28:43","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T22:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging21.finca.org\/uncategorized-en-ca\/giving-her-children-a-better-life"},"modified":"2024-11-04T02:07:28","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T07:07:28","slug":"giving-her-children-a-better-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finca.org\/en-ca\/giving-her-children-a-better-life","title":{"rendered":"Giving Her Children a Better Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the end of a long, windy, and bumpy dirt road \u2013 well beyond the point where public transportation ends \u2013 you come to the home of Marcelina Concepi\u00f3n Vasquez, a FINCA\u00a0microfinance<\/a>\u00a0client. There nestled in the rural highlands of Santa Cruz del Quich\u00e9,\u00a0Guatemala<\/a>, one can appreciate a breathtaking vista: cascading green hills serrating wispy clouds on the blue horizon.<\/p>\n

Yet, despite the landscape\u2019s beauty, enterprising women like Marcelina have little time to stop and appreciate the panoramic view.<\/p>\n

Four years ago, Marcelina and her family were just barely making it. Marcelina was working as a seamstress out of the home making\u00a0huipiles, a traditional garment worn by indigenous Mayan women. Her husband, Carlos Martin De Leon Us, was spinning an enormous weaving loom in a shed just outside. With three children to provide for, it always seemed like they were one slow business week away from falling helplessly behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day,\u201d Marcelina recounted, \u201cI paid a visit to my mother,\u00a0Rosa<\/a>, who lives closer to town. I told her about our business struggles. That\u2019s when I learned about FINCA loans,\u201d said Marcelina, with a smile spreading across her face.<\/p>\n

Taking Her Mother’s Advice<\/h2>\n

Marcelina had no sooner mentioned financial worries for her family than Rosa, a FINCA client, suggested applying for a loan.<\/p>\n

The obvious use would be for Marcelina’s sewing business, but a look around the community gave her another thought. Considering how far she traveled to buy groceries and other necessities, Marcelina figured her neighbors must share the same frustration. It was this same insightful thinking that led her mother to open a flour mill years earlier.<\/p>\n

Using an initial loan of nearly $1,000, Marcelina constructed a wooden stall outside her home with a locking door, customer service window, and product display shelves. What used to be a few odd products strewn about was now converted into a fully stocked mini general store. It wasn\u2019t long before neighbors began frequenting Marcelina\u2019s little shop.<\/p>\n

\"FINCA