We are proud to announce FWM’s new partnership with several indigenous women’s cooperatives in Guatemala. Our goal is to help create new products, increase their market and help promote their self development within Guatemala.
In August, 2008, we established working relationships with Mayan women's cooperatives in the highlands.
On returning this last June, we discovered that the Chumanzana Group has become inspired with an entrepreneurial spirit in hopes of improving their lives. Because they now have a small outlet to the outside world for their weaving, they have begun to dream. Their dream is now to open a store in their village that sells thread to both their local community and those close by. Though all women are weavers, they must travel a long distance to find thread because their village is remotely located.
This summer we helped them begin to think through this process, to collect information they need and to connect them with a local NGO that is helping them with the legal aspects of their business. Our goal is now to help them apply for any grants we can find to help them purchase stock and display cabinets. If any of you know of grants we can assist them with, please let us know.
This is what Fair Trade can do: a little bit of hope can spark dreams of change.
In August, 2008, we established working relationships with Mayan women's cooperatives in the highlands.
On returning this last June, we discovered that the Chumanzana Group has become inspired with an entrepreneurial spirit in hopes of improving their lives. Because they now have a small outlet to the outside world for their weaving, they have begun to dream. Their dream is now to open a store in their village that sells thread to both their local community and those close by. Though all women are weavers, they must travel a long distance to find thread because their village is remotely located.
This summer we helped them begin to think through this process, to collect information they need and to connect them with a local NGO that is helping them with the legal aspects of their business. Our goal is now to help them apply for any grants we can find to help them purchase stock and display cabinets. If any of you know of grants we can assist them with, please let us know.
This is what Fair Trade can do: a little bit of hope can spark dreams of change.
