Rural communities are confronted with limited financial resources and live from day to day. Especially rural women in the communities do not have access to financial mechanisms to promote entrepreneurship and generate financial autonomy.
The solution was to create a system of self-managed saving and credit groups that would allow women to: save collectively, get more financial autonomy, and procure earnings that generate capital for credits.
In 2013, a "revolving fund" was launched that has supported farmers' economies and improved women's lives. From the beginning, communities supported the option and actively promoted it. Following an exchange in 2015 with indigenous women's groups in Baja Verapaz, it was decided to implement the self-saving system in Maya-Achí territory.
In 2022, the groups sought FUNDATIERRA's support to strengthen the system. Almost ten years later, the initiative has 365 participants in 12 groups, mostly led by indigenous women.
Through boards of directors, activities and finances are managed. 90% of the participants emphasise that the women in the system are the main decision-makers. Following the successes, daughters and sons were included in the system, encouraging savings for future generations.
The Tierra Nuestra Foundation is a non-profit, independent, and non-partisan organization dedicated to developing marginalized indigenous and peasant communities. The foundation collaborates to build local, national, and international alliances.