Berta’s Story and the Impact of MARES in Oaxaca
In the communities of Oaxaca, mothers cultivate much more than vegetables. Through collective savings and the knowledge gained from the MARES project (Women Saving in Solidarity Networks), the seed of their learning is beginning to bear fruit, fruit that nourishes their families, strengthens their businesses, and sustains dreams that once seemed out of reach.
One of these cases is Berta, a member of the group “Las Kardashian” in the Vicente Guerrero Neighborhood, in the eastern area of Zaachila. In 2022, she learned about the project while accompanying a friend, and that encouraged her to join the group in the following cycle.
“I serve as treasurer together with another colleague. I help count the money, collect the social contribution, and count the repayments of the loans. My colleagues put their trust in me; because they’re trusting me with the money that belongs to all of us, and it’s mine too. I have to take care of it and keep it safe, because now we’re all part of one team.
Before joining MARES, Berta had accessed loans with traditional microfinance institutions.
“From the first moment, I loved the dynamic. Here, we all follow through… we must motivate ourselves and put in the effort so our money can grow.”
MARES also provided opportunities for knowledge she had never had before: workshops on healthy living, financial education, budgeting, and future planning, tools she now uses to improve her late-night eatery business.
“I learned to say: today I earned this much, this part is for my savings, this is for buying gas for cooking, this is for electricity… and that’s how I started organizing myself. Saving changed the way I see money.”
Her increased financial knowledge pushed her goals further. With loans managed within the group, ranging from $3,000MXN (150 USD) to $14,000MXN ($700 USD), Berta could invest in her son’s small audio and lighting rental business. They have purchased equipment, sets of lighting, and more.
Today, her family has a new goal: saving to buy a small car, a dream that, as the savings cycle closes in December, feels closer than ever.
“When I received my first $8,000MXN ($400 USD) in savings, I thought: never in my life had I saved so much. I couldn’t believe it… You do yourself a huge favor by saving. The satisfaction comes later.”
A Project That Transforms Lives, One Savings Cycle at a Time
Like Berta, every week 158 women participate in one of the 10 savings and loan groups that form MARES in the communities of Zaachila and San Bartolo Coyotepec, in the Central Valleys Region, and Santa María Yucuhiti, and San Cristóbal Amoltepec, in the Mixtec Region.
All of them, mothers, farmers, and entrepreneurs, have chosen to sow new possibilities through autonomy and mutual support.
During the 2024 cycle, 37% of participants surpassed their annual savings goal. This year, the amount is estimated to increase to 60%
And in that same period, they were able to save $1,251,100MXN ($62,555 USD), a remarkable achievement in the context of high economic vulnerability.
In addition to the habit and the personal savings goal each woman sets for herself, the group effort allows them to access short-term loans to cover emergencies or unexpected expenses, significantly reducing the need to turn to predatory lenders, a common practice in the region.
Having that support brings the added benefit that the interest paid goes back to the entire group. And although problems aren’t always fully resolved, knowing they can rely on the women in the group helps them face challenges with greater strength.
Each group operates autonomously: they elect their administrative committee, define rules, minimum savings amounts, interest rates, and more.
In each biweekly session, the women not only save, they learn, support one another, and build community.
“So far, my favorite place is being here. I feel very comfortable; we’ve developed the habit of saving. Here, with our savings, our money grows”
Since 2022, more women like Berta have been making safer financial decisions, building small businesses, facing emergencies with greater stability, and sharing with their children the value of what they’ve learned.
Every contribution to MARES plants real opportunities: more workshops, more savings groups, more accessible loans, more family businesses that grow, more children who eat better, more women who discover that yes, they can save, they can plan, they can lead.
Because when a woman saves, her whole community blossoms.
