Hand-Painted Wood Wall Cross from Guatemala, "Christ's Sacrifice"

Jose suffers from a rare facial nerve paralysis and is currently treating the condition with physical therapy.

Jose is a very talented wood carver. He first learned when he was just ten years old from his father. This art has been passed down for generations and Jose plans to continue the tradition and teach his son how to carve.

Jose Canil Ramos has received 7 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $250 and the most recent for $2100. Proceeds were used to invest in wood, saws, paints, and sandpaper for production.

Jose's work helps generate employment opportunities for those in his community. With the sales from NOVICA, he can employ other artisans and help change the lives of his workers.

Jose hires several people in his community which provides them with a stable income for supporting their families.