Felipe Calguá Balán

Type of Project: Multiple loans
Request: Loans to purchase car, photocopier, photo printer, and color photocopier
Location(s): Santa Cruz, Quixayá, Sololá, Guatemala
Recipient: Felipe Calguá Balán

Felipe Calguá Balán is a computer science teacher in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, who has a heart for the struggling people in his community.  Due to the minimal financial resources of the residents of Santa Cruz Quixayá, traveling to the nearest large community to photocopy personal documents is nearly impossible.  Because of this, Felipe and his family purchased a photocopier that they maintain in their home.  His objective is to help provide a service at a better cost within reach of the people of his community. 

Trade Palms began a relationship with Felipe in April of 2007 when he requested a two-year loan for the black and white photocopier to start up a home-based business.  Due to his rapid success, Felipe paid off his loan in nine months.

With one business venture operating successfully, Felipe seized the opportunity to obtain a government contract for road and highway maintenance which required a pickup truck and a staff.  Felipe requested a new four-year loan from Trade Palms for a vehicle to be used for the road maintenance contracts.  In addition, he would use the vehicle in the off-hours to operate privately contracted trips for individuals or groups.  With the vehicle, Felipe has employed fifteen locals who work to clean and maintain a fifteen mile portion of highway.  He has also employed his brother as the driver and foreman of the operation.  Felipe writes, “I understand the idea of Trade Palms is to hold myself up as a Christian and share the Word of God with those near me.  Helping people that don’t have work opens many doors to be an example like Jesus.”  Felipe successfully paid off the vehicle loan in a fifteen month period. 

In June 2008, Felipe expanded his home-based photocopy business by purchasing a photo printer.  He saw a need within his community to provide color photos at an affordable price and again requested the help of Trade Palms on a loan to purchase the necessary equipment.

Felipe’s fourth loan with Trade Palms was approved in March of 2009 for an all-in-one unit for color printing, scanning, and color photocopying.  With this expansion of his business, Felipe formally registered his home-based business, Alta Tecnología, as an official Guatemalan business.  This registration has allowed him to perform contract printing for government and non-profit organizations in addition to individuals in his small community.