GUATEMALAN INSIGHT TRIP

MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2011

•Friendship Bridge was established in 1990 with the mission to send medical supplies to impoverished populations in war-ravaged Vietnam.

•In 1994, we shifted our focus to microcredit.

•In 1998, Friendship Bridge expanded our work to Guatemala, another war-ravaged suffering extreme poverty and offering limited opportunities to women .

• Friendship Bridge transferred our Vietnam loan portfolio of $258,000 to local partners in 2000 and began focusing solely on Guatemala.

•By 2003, almost 3,000 clients were borrowing from Friendship Bridge.

•Today, we reach more than 13,000 women through our Microcredit Plus program.

Friendship Bridge History

Guatemala is divided into

22 Departments (states)

22 Mayan languages are

spoken

Friendship Bridge Insight Trips One-week journeys to Guatemala offered at least twice a year.

The purpose of each trip is to:

Visit with the women and staff in our microcredit program

Challenge participants with inspirational, thought-provoking experiences.

Stimulate deeper understanding of conditions for impoverished women and their families in Guatemala.

Participate in a sharing of cultures between participants and the Mayan women in our program

Next trip: Fall 2011 (TBD) 

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,

2011 INSIGHT TRIP PARTICIPANTS

Leaders Caitlin Scott – Development Associate Marta Julia Ixtuc Cuc - Communications Coordinator

Susan - CO Jocelyn –DC mother - daughter

Ellen- CO Pixie-CO Julia-NC Jane-CA

Kate Connie Amy

WIJanet Betty Margie

CO

TRANSPORTATION

Tuk-tuk

A truckload of chicks

On the road again . . . .

Lake Atitlan boat

Crocodile Kate

and

Marta the

interpreter extraordinaire!

Currently, 9 Friendship Bridge offices in Guatemala 1 Head office, 6 Branches, 2 satellite offices

1,100 Trust Banks 13,000 clients Loans average $330 (Q 2310)

Friendship Bridge offices _________2011 Insight Trip sites visited

LOAN BUSINESSES

Raising Strawberries

Irrigated fields

Tarp heats soil&

keeps berries clean.

Packaged for market

Natural dye process

Weaving

Bean/Corn Powder

Pottery

SUCCESS STORIES

Juana Solis Churunel has designed a shopping bag made from recycled plastic bags.

Meetings

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.

Monthly Meeting Topics

Self Esteem Lesson

Business lesson

Is your business growing?

Or is it getting smaller?

Are your production and sales increasing?

Do you manage your money well?

Friendship Bridge Office in Quetzaltenango (Xela)

Friendship Bridge Statistics

74 total employees of FB in Guatemala40 loan officers8 supervisors3 branch managers

6 paid staff members in US (Currently 13 Circles in US)

The loan portfolio is generating enough interest to pay all salaries.

•4 years ago they began overhauling their computerized finance system. On April 11 they went live with MicroPlanet. The server is housed in CO.

•Plans are in place to rent Solution Nationwide for Guatemala.

This program will streamline the loan officers’ computer work.

•Friendship Bridge is partnering with an organization that specializes in business development.

•Offering life insurance for loan families is a current consideration.

FUTURE GOALS

Director of CreditCarlos Buitrago

Finance Director & International TechnologyAsdrid

Education DirectorRoberto

Caitlin

Human Resources ManagerRosemary

Marta

Accomodations

On Lake Atitlan in San Lucas Toliman

Antigua: Hotel La Aurora.

GUATEMALAN SITES

Shopping in Nim Pot, Antigua

Antigua Arch

Lenten Traditions

ALTAR OFFERINGS

“Ofrendas”

Street processionpreparation

Replica of Antigua arch

Jocotenango church

Student Procession

Antigua ruins

Antigua Cathedral

Iglesia la MercedAntigua

“The Candy Church”San Andres Xecul

Sign posted along pillars inside one church . . .

Santo Domingo Antigua

Al final

FB Circle Fund Raising Activities1. 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 tasting10. Used art auction silent auction

Spring Building Bridges Gala: Denver Tickets $75. 100 silent auction items includes 13 entertainment items and 14 getaways.