Friendship Bridge client since 2013; part of Handmade by Friendship Bridge® since 2024

A resident of Patzún, Chimaltenango, Debora is married and is the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom are young adults and teenagers. Growing up, her father was a farmer and a driver for a health organization; her mother was a merchant, selling items at the market. Debora wanted to become a teacher, but was only able to attend one year of high school.

The Artisan’s History
Debora originally learned how to make baskets through a training course that she and a group of 20 other women paid for and took together. She loves all the products she makes, but her favorite skill is embroidery. When creating, she draws inspiration from nature and from her emotional state. She likes to create when she is feeling happy, so that feeling can be conveyed through the combinations of colors that she selects.

The Friendship Bridge Impact
With the loans she has received through Friendship Bridge, Debora has been able to expand her handicraft business. She has also learned new techniques and improved her knowledge of finances, especially on the topic of calculating the cost of her materials.

Goals
A skilled salesperson who is always seizing new opportunities, Debora hopes to someday have a space in her home where she can organize and sell all her products. She also wants to support others by teaching them techniques for free, so that the knowledge base in her community can continually be strengthened.