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NamasteDirect Partners
NamasteDirect works with well-established partner organizations
in Guatemala and Mexico to ensure that our local efforts are conducted
in a professional manner by people on the ground who are
knowledgeable about and sensitive to the culture and customs.
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FAPE
(Fundación de Asistencia para Pequeña Empresa)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Number of clients: 3,300 (92% women)
Outstanding loans: $453,000
Staff: 33
Director: Sergio Gonzales
Started in 1984, FAPE supports microenterprise
development in rural communities in Guatemala. The organization's methodology is primarily group
lending through a model called Bancos de Mujeres de Confianza (Banks of
Trustworthy Women). Recently, FAPE has also started offering basic business education to each microcredit borrower. The FAPE staff is a dedicated and heartfelt team that works hard toward toward their mission of helping families rise out of poverty. |
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Care
Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Number of clients: 1,695 (100% women)
Outstanding loans: $668,664
Director: Luis Gaitan
CARE has operated in Guatemala since 1959 and has developed an extensive working relationship with agencies in the public and private sectors. CARE operates projects in water and sanitation, agriculture, agroforestry, primary health care, population, girl's education and small economic activity development. |
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Fundacion Raiz
Guatemala City
Number of clients: 27,000
Staff: 332
Outstanding Loans: $26 million
Director: David Morales
Fundacion Raiz is a far-flung MFI with 27,000 clients served out of 26 branch offices.
Raiz was started in Xela 10 years ago and for their first 5 years focused on individual loans, primarily to small farmers. In the last few years they have expanded into smaller loans to women in group settings, both community banks and solidarity groups. The percentage of loans to women has climbed from virtually zero to now 60% and continuing to grow. |
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AlSol
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
Number of clients: 14,020 (100% Women)
Outstanding loans: $2,400,000
Staff: 34
Director: Katia Corroy
Since 1998, AlSol has been working to provide financial and social services to the poorest
women in the state of Chiapas so that these women and their families can improve their
standard of living. AlSol follows the Grameen methodology and makes its loans to solidarity
groups of three to five women. Using an integrative approach, AlSol aims to address various
facets of extreme poverty, including lack of capital, illiteracy and malnutrition. In addition
to its microcredit program, AlSol offers educational programs for microcredit borrowers and
nutrition programs for their children. |
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Friendship Bridge
Panajachel, Guatemala
Number of clients: 14,460 (100% women)
Outstanding loans: $3,300,000
Staff: 60
Director: Cristian Shoemaker
Working in Guatemala since 1998, Friendship Bridge is committed to reaching the poorest areas of rural Guatemala and providing credit and education to women (primarily Mayan). Topics on business development, self esteem, and women's health are delivered through regularly scheduled repay meetings. In addition, in an effort to support clients desires to enable their children's education, Friendship Bridge offers scholarships and school supplies to thousands of children, and operates a children's learning center in the remote village of Nebaj. |
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