Project Report
| Jul 10, 2017
Weaving Exchanges Open Doors to New Ideas
By Jeannie Balanda | Executive Director
![Mario inspects the quality of fabric.]()
Mario inspects the quality of fabric.
Lila has a MayaWorks microcredit loan to expand her weaving business. With her loan she has purchased new looms that enable her to create a variety of fabrics. She makes beautiful designs that she sells to companies who use her fabrics in their products.
Lila is also interested in learning new techniques. Recently she benefitted from techincal assistance by Mario Poz, a weaving expert in Guatemala. Mario has taught Lila new techniques that allow her to work more efficiently and use less resources in her weaving.
Lila never imagined that she would meet weavers from Taiwan and share with them her expertise of Guatemalan weaving. In turn, they shared their knowledge of Taiwan weaving with her. The weavers from Taiwan came to Lila's home and spent the day learning from each other. It was an experience that they all will remember for a lifetime!
![Lila teaches Guatemalan weaving techniques]()
Lila teaches Guatemalan weaving techniques
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
Apr 10, 2017
Microcredit Loans Helped Everilda Reach her Goals
By Jeannie Balanda | Executive Director
![Everilda reviews her project plan with staff.]()
Everilda reviews her project plan with staff.
Everilda grew up very poor. She did not attend school. Her whole life has been dedicated to working to take care of her family. Everilda has been an artisan partner with MayaWorks for over 15 years. She says MayaWorks has afforded her many benefits that she would have never dreamed of.
Ten years ago Everilda learned to read and write when MayaWorks offered women in her community literacy classes. For three years, Everilda attended classes faithfully because she knew if she could read, she could provide a better life for her family. She also knew that taking advantage of MayaWorks microcredit loans would help her family prosper.
Everilda used her first loan to plant corn and other vegetables. With the money she earned from selling her vegetables harvest after harvest, she was able to purchase land and eventually built a small home for her family. She says without microcredit loans she would never have had a home of her own.
There have been many loans since that first one and Everilda is proud to say that she has learned to be a smart business women because of them.
![Everilda displays her artwork at a recent workshop]()
Everilda displays her artwork at a recent workshop
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
Jan 9, 2017
Microloans Help Women Create Judaica Products
By Jeannie Balanda | Executive Diretor
![Lila will soon get a larger loom]()
Lila will soon get a larger loom
One of MayaWorks' niche product lines includes our yarmulkes and prayer shawls that our artisan partners create for the Jewish community. Nobody has taken better advantage of our micorloans to create judaica products than Lila. Lila recently paid off a microcredit loan that she used to purchase looms that would allow her to create "tallitot" or prayer shawls. And now she's at it again! Lila is applying for a new loan to purchase a loom that will allow her to make tallitot that are double the size of the ones she makes now. This means much more income for Lila.
Lila says she has benefitted from her microloans more than she imagined. She's expanded her home to include a second level, purchased cows and rabbits that she breeds and sells for profit and even helped to pay for her son's wedding. She knows that smart management of her loan means the ability to leverage her earnings to invest in larger projects. An added benefit of a successful microloan project: Women in her community see Lila as a role model!
At MayaWorks we are always eager to see what Lila will do next and don't hesitate to approve her microloan application because we are confident Lila will manage a successful income generating project. Thank you to Global Giving donors who support our microcredit loan program.
![Lila at her loom creating the atarah of the tallit]()
Lila at her loom creating the atarah of the tallit
Links:
![Share on Twitter]()
![Share on Facebook]()
