What does it mean to build a better future?
For Heidy, it means creating economic stability for her family while remaining close to the people she loves most. As a 36-year-old single mother of three, she has worked tirelessly to build a livelihood that supports her family and creates opportunities for the future.
Today, Heidy operates a wood-fired chicken business that serves customers in Panajachel and San Andrés Semetabaj. But her entrepreneurial journey began long before launching her business two years ago. Like many women, she explored different ways to generate income while balancing the responsibilities of raising her children.
As part of Natün’s Economic Development Program, Heidy received business advising and access to microcredit, resources that helped her strengthen her enterprise and implement improvements. Through personalized business support, she developed a better understanding of financial management and gained tools to make informed decisions about the future of her business.
Her children are also part of the journey. They help with food preparation, cleaning, and deliveries, making the business a family effort and a shared investment in their future.
For Heidy, entrepreneurship is about more than generating income. It is about creating opportunities and working toward meaningful goals. One of her motivations for starting her business was her desire to provide quality educational opportunities for her children. Having previously connected with Natün through the scholarship program, she understood the importance of investing in their future.
Building a business as a single mother has not always been easy. There have been challenges along the way, but Heidy continues to move forward with determination and a vision for what she hopes to achieve.
“Regardless of each woman’s situation, I believe we all have dreams and goals we hope to achieve,” Heidy shares.
Looking ahead, Heidy dreams of opening her own restaurant. Her story demonstrates how access to business knowledge, financial resources, and culturally relevant support strengthens Indigenous women’s economic independence and brings lasting opportunities to rural communities in the Lake Atitlan region.
Through its Economic Development Program, Natün works alongside women entrepreneurs like Heidy, supporting efforts to build economic resilience, pursue goals, and contribute to the wellbeing of communities.
Watch the video below to hear Heidy share her story.
