For 14 years, Marieta was part of a Trust Bank at Friendship Bridge, steadily growing her laundry business and supporting her family. In 2024, she took a bold step: she transitioned from a group loan to an individual loan. Marieta was one of 121 clients in 2024 who participated in the Cultivar graduation program—an Advanced Training initiative developed by Friendship Bridge in collaboration with Alterna.
“The program helped me understand how much I spend, how much I invest, what my profit is, and how to value my time,” Marieta shares. She also learned how to organize her schedule, provide better customer service, and keep detailed records of her daily sales and expenses, including costs for essentials like laundry softener and electricity.
Additional training
In addition to the Cultivar training, Marieta took part in other Advanced Training courses through Friendship Bridge, in which she learned how to make gelatin cakes, pies, and even traditional fiambre. These new skills have helped her diversify her income and increase her confidence as a business owner.
Now, Marieta has joined our Bridge to Success program for individual entrepreneurs, forging a path to a more independent, prosperous life. “I knew I was ready [to get an individual loan] because I felt confident in myself,” she says. “I saw that I was capable of managing it, and also capable of making my payments. And so I did it.”
Confidence is the foundation of every thriving business.
Thanks to our Advanced Training options, women like Marieta learn to track their profits and diversify their income as they take the step toward an individual loan. With your support, more women can do the same.
