Micro-Enterprise

Micro-Lending Program- Using much of the philosophy of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus’ successful micro lending program in Bangladesh, we offer small loans to our members to jumpstart small-scale enterprises, or improve the infrastructure of their home or gardens.

Through the low-interests collected, the Association can increase the amount of funds available for this project and provide the service to a greater number of individuals, and help cover our operating costs, as we become increasingly sustainable.

Success story: Qachuu Aloom loaned $20.00 to a woman to start making shampoo. She is a single mother, and now sells her shampoo in 2 municipalities. She has developed her own mixtures, and says she has been able to buy meat for her children for the first time in their lives. Having a small amount of start up capital can be instrumental in helping a person out of poverty.

Scholarship program for women – Traditionally, women in Guatemala have not received the same educational opportunities as men. Almost 80% of rural Maya women are illiterate. To address this problem, Qachuu Aloom started in 2007 a scholarship program for women to access junior and senior high school. The scholarships are offered to female members of the Association, or daughters of our members, who would otherwise have the opportunity to attend school.

In 2008, we offered eight scholarships. Our goal is to increase this number in the coming years. In exchange for their scholarship, the girls volunteer once a week at the Association, work in their garden, and teach literacy skills to a group of a 10 illiterate women in their communities. Their fields of study include: education, nursing, management, and accounting.