Georgina Gutierrez Pro Mujer Mexico Client Since: October 2002 Age: 36 Children: One daughter, age 7 Hometown: Mixquaihuala, Mexico Current loan: 6th loan, $400 Business: Chicken sales

Georgina is a single mother who lives in rural Mexico with her daughter, Rebecca. As a child, Georgina was forced to drop out of school to help support her family, and she's determined to give Rebecca the opportunities she never had.

Before receiving her first loan from Pro Mujer Mexico, Georgina made only enough money helping with her father's business to feed herself and Rebecca. A friend told her about Pro Mujer Mexico, and she went to an informational meeting. There, she decided that a Pro Mujer Mexico loan was just what she needed to invest in a business and make enough money to support her family.

With her first loan, Georgina bought some chickens and the materials needed to feed and care for them. Her profits were $2.00 for each chicken sold, and she sold an average of 15 chickens per day. Georgina has since obtained new loans, investing all of the money from each loan into her business. This has allowed her to increase her profits and begin selling rabbits to supplement her income.

With her significantly increased income, Georgina can now support herself and Rebecca. She uses her profits to pay for her daughter's school tuition, supplies and clothing. Georgina also contributes to other household expenses, relieving some of her parents' financial burden. She hopes to begin saving more with Pro Mujer Mexico so that her daughter can attend college one day.

Recently Georgina's mother joined Pro Mujer Mexico, and now both women go to the weekly meetings together. Georgina believes that things are better now for her family than ever before because of Pro Mujer Mexico.
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	Maria Guadalupe Licona Pro Mujer Mexico Client Since: October 2003 Age: 62 Children: Three children and three grandchildren Hometown: Tulancingo, Mexico Loan History: 3rd loan, $220 Business: Animal husbandry

Judging by her smiling face and upbeat attitude, you would never know what a difficult life Maria has led. She was orphaned at nine and forced to work as a maid in Mexico City. Without any formal education, she remained there for 10 years, often enduring cruel conditions.

Maria met her husband at the age of 14, and after an arduous 18-year marriage, he left her alone with their three children. Her only option was to work odd jobs, barely earning enough money to feed her family. Maria's children eventually left for the U.S. to look for work, leaving her to look after her three grandchildren. Although she raised corn, chickens, pigs and cows, she didn't earn enough to keep her grandchildren clothed and in school.

Maria attended a Pro Mujer Mexico (Pro Mujer Mexico) information session and became excited about the possibility of investing in sheep, which she knew would yield a greater profit than what she was currently tending. Because she lives in an isolated, rural area, she was also excited about being able to talk to other hardworking women during weekly payment meetings who could relate to her experiences.

With her loans, Maria bought additional pigs, sheep and fertilizer for her crops. She has greatly increased her income, especially when she can sell lambs for $160 each.

Maria values the training Pro Mujer Mexico provides and enjoys learning new things from the other women borrowers. She dreams of one day buying more land for her grandchildren.
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