Marta lives in a small village called Patio Bolas, in Tecpan, Guatemala. With her friend, Marta took the initiative to visit the Mentors Guatemala office in 2008. They needed capital for their small weaving business to make blouses.
Marta received both a loan and business training to help develop her business. Marta has since taken out additional loans with Mentors and has steadily grown her enterprise. The training Marta and her partner received from Mentors helped them develop the necessary skills to be successful as a team and small business.
Her once tiny enterprise now produces napkins, blankets, belts, and several other embroidered products in addition to the ornate blouses traditional to Guatemala. She also sells her products in markets throughout Tecpan, Chimaltenango, Solola and Antigua. She is able to help more of her family members, like her sisters, whom she employs full time, providing them with a modest but steady monthly income.
“I love that I am able to help those closest to me,” she said. “I hope that I can help provide jobs for more people in the community.”