CREATING
PROSPERITY

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

When we economically empower women, they gain control over their lives, invest in their families, and break generational cycles of poverty

WHAT WE DO

Learn about Namaste’s signature Creating Prosperity Program (CPP) and additional women’s economic empowerment services.

DONATE

Your investment will support women entrepreneurs to grow sustainable businesses, achieve financial security, and pursue their dreams.

ABOUT US

Our Team, Annual Reports, Impact, Strategic Plan, and Our Story.

our mission

Namaste Direct is a nonprofit organization that is laser-focused on economically empowering women entrepreneurs in Guatemala to grow profitable businesses and lift themselves out of poverty. 

Why? There is an overwhelming correlation between poverty and gender inequality. When women have the resources and opportunity to make and manage their money, they gain agency over their lives, invest in the well-being of their families, strengthen their communities, and make an immense contribution to the economy. 

  • 60% of the population lives in poverty in Guatemala.
  • Guatemala has the 3rd highest rate of violent deaths for women in the world.
  • There are very few traditional employment opportunities, especially for women.
  • Over 70% of working women in Guatemala are self-employed in the informal workforce. 

With an average of just four years of education, most women entrepreneurs lack financial literacy and basic business skills to run successful businesses. 

Namaste’s mission is to empower economically vulnerable Guatemalan women with the skills and resources to grow profitable businesses, achieve financial security, and pursue their dreams. 

Since 2008, Namaste has economically empowered 4,500 women through our signature Creating Prosperity Program (CPP). The CPP combines business advising, financial literacy training, and customized microloans to help women entrepreneurs formalize their business models, manage their finances, and dramatically increase their profits. 

BUSINESS ADVISING

Business advisors are local community leaders, well versed in the local economy and also the indigenous language of the region.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Each Namaste Entrepreneur learns important cash management techniques, such as separating business money from personal money.

CUSTOMIZED BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM

Each woman’s business is unique, which is why the loans are tailored to the specific needs of each client.

TECHNOLOGY

The monitoring and evaluation system used by Namaste is based on a tailor made online database called PROSPER.

KIVA ARTICLE

KIVA ARTICLE

“Since 2011 we are partners with Kiva, and our clients receive loans from individual lenders via the Kiva website. In order to grow and serve more clients annually, what we need is to raise more money directly for Fundación Namasté Guatemaya.

read more

PROFILE OF TYPICAL
NAMASTE CLIENT

Namaste celebrates 15 years of service to over 3,500 low-income micro-entrepreneurs, the top 70% of which more than doubled their monthly profits with our training!

NINE-MONTH TRAINING CYCLES

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ATTENDANCE RATE

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ADVICE IMPLEMENTED

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meet the women you are helping

Silvia Isabel

Olga Marina

Romelia

Wanda