Spanish Blog
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
NEW Maya Traditions Catalog on B2B Fair Trade Direct!
Thanks to our friends at PEOPlink, we now have a small catalog of some of our featured items online! We are working to update and upload even more products in the coming month.
Our retail link will launch this week at http://catalog.openentry.com/mayatraditionsb2b. You can purchase by credit card through paypal at this site.
Our wholesale link is: http://catalog.openentry.com/mayatraditionsb2b. Prices are not listed for wholesale as wholesalers need to confirm their status; however, any interested wholesalers may inquire for price from robin@mayatraditions.org. We have a variety of shipping options.
We will also make special offers on these sites, so check us out for updates!
Remember that all of your purchases support our work in Guatemala in artistry, education, and health, and it is always Fair Trade produced, purchased, and paid.
Maya Traditions is a Fair Trade Federation certified organization. Our Foundation is a legal Guatemalan non-profit and we adhere to fair trade practices.
Our retail link will launch this week at http://catalog.openentry.com/mayatraditionsb2b. You can purchase by credit card through paypal at this site.
Our wholesale link is: http://catalog.openentry.com/mayatraditionsb2b. Prices are not listed for wholesale as wholesalers need to confirm their status; however, any interested wholesalers may inquire for price from robin@mayatraditions.org. We have a variety of shipping options.
We will also make special offers on these sites, so check us out for updates!
Remember that all of your purchases support our work in Guatemala in artistry, education, and health, and it is always Fair Trade produced, purchased, and paid.
Maya Traditions is a Fair Trade Federation certified organization. Our Foundation is a legal Guatemalan non-profit and we adhere to fair trade practices.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Leadership and Iniciative Workshop
On October 20th, I had the opportunity to participate in Maya Traditions Leadership and Iniciative Workshop. The workshop included nine of our scholarship students and six women from the six communities we work with (ie Chirijox, Queijel, Santa Clara, San Juan la Laguna, Patanatic and Chuacruz). The workshop was led by Licenciado Tereso Joj Cosme with the overall theme of theme of how to develop community based projects.
Professor Tereso began the workshop with the question, How well do you know your community? The students and women were guided in considering the social construction of their communities and ultimately identifying the issues that they view as the biggest problems in their communities. Alcoholism, drug addiction, gangs, unemployment, migration, deforestation, the lack of transportation and the lack of access to education were identified as some of the greatest issues and problems that affect their communities.
Together as a large group the students and women then analyzed the problem of deforestation and how it affects their communities, by discussing the statement, Deforestation causes climate change, forest fires, affects animals and causes illnesses. The women and students then divided into smaller groups to discuss the causes and effects of deforestation, allowing them to see the interconnectedness of action and results.
I was very impressed by the both the issues addressed in the workshop as well as by the students’ participation and enthusiasm. The students were very eager to participate and openly to communicate their ideas. They also seemed educated and aware of the problems that affect their communities and open to discuss possibilities for creating change.Throughout the workshop Professor Tereso empasized the importance of the idea of participation by all members of the group. He elaborated, " Exclusion [of a person] is the worst thing that can happen in a community".The next step is that the students will return to their communities and prepare to replicate the workshop they participated in for the the rest of the scholarship students and women weavers. In the month of November we will be visiting each of the communities, to accompany the students in their replication of the workshop.
This was the first Maya Traditions workshop that I have participated in and it really solidified for me the importance of the work Maya Traditions does and the support it offers in the communities. One student, Nicolas Santiago Chiyal Ixmata explained to me that he views the biggest problem in his community as the lack of employment. His plan to study electric engineering and then open a mechanic business to provide work opportunities for the people in his community. He explained, "Everything that I mentioned here is not a dream, they are realities that I will attain to better my life and my community".
Leadership and Iniciative Workshop/ Taller de Lidergazgo e Iniciativa
Today I would like to introduce you to some of the students that benefit from Maya Tradition’s Scholarship program. They took part on a workshop about leadership together with the 6 women weavers representing their communities.
The workshop was run by Tereso JoJ Cosme, Valle de Guatemala`s University Director. He talked about the importance of identifying the problems of each community, deciding the urgency of the major problems, analysing the causes that generate them and working as a group to find practical solutions. He put special emphasis in the need to speak up but also the ability to listen to the rest of the group to get to a successful consensus before getting down to work.
It was impressive to see the level of interest, involvement and participation of the women and youth! They are eager to bring change to their communities!
And here they are,
Zoila Guarax, Amilcar Zapeta, Elizabeth Vasquez, Rodolfo Guarcax, Dominga, Nicolas Chiyal, Lidia Pich, Lorenzzo Coj, Aracely Alvarez & Domingo Macario.
This faces represent the future of Guatemala. They all dream of going to University to have the opportunity of a better life and bring change to their communities, but they are also aware of their financial limitations....
Aracely would like to study Law, but when she graduates later this year she needs to start working to help pay the studies of her younger sister.
Rodolfo wants to become an agriculturist, he would love to study in the University of Costa Rica, but the fees are in USdollars and the University grant only covers 60%. He also has this idea of creating a chicken farm bussiness on his community.
Lorenzo, who wants to become a teacher, is very concern about the problem of drugs and alcoholism in his community. He has seen kids as young as 10 drinking and smoking. He wants a better future for him and those around him.
Each of them has a personal story to tell and all of them deserve an opportunity to a better future; thats why your funding & donations for the Education program are so important for them.
Hoy quiero presentaros a algunos de los estudiantes que se benefician del programa de becas escolares de Tradiciones Mayas. Formaron parte de un taller sobre liderazgo e iniciativa junto con las mujeres tejedoras representando cada una de las comunidades.
El taller fue impartido por Tereso Joj Cosme, Director de la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Tereso hablo de la importancia de identificar los problemas prioritarios de cada comunidad, decidir conjuntamente la urgencia de cada uno de ellos, analizar las causas que los crearon y buscar soluciones practicas para cada uno de ellos.
Tambien hablo de la importancia de expresar la opinion de cada uno y escuchar las opiniones del resto de la comunidad para poner ideas en comun y llegar a un acuerdo safisfactorio antes de ponerse manos a la obra.
Fue impresionante ver el nivel de interes, implicacion y participacion tanto de los jovenes como de las mujeres, todos ellos estan ansiosos por generar cambios positivos en sus comunidades!
En la foto podeis ver a los estudiantes que participaron. Esas caras representan el futuro de Guatemala. Todos ellos sueñan con ir a la Universidad para mejorar su futuro y poder cambiar las cosas en sus comunidades, pero tambien son conscientes de sus limitaciones economicas.
A Aracely le gustaria estudiar Derecho, pero cuando se gradue este año, necesita ponerse a trabajar para ayudar a pagar los estudios de su hermana pequeña.
A Rodolfo le gustaria ser un agroculturista, quiere ir a la Universidad de Costa Rica, pero la beca que le conceden solo cubre el 60% del precio en dolares US. Tambien tiene una idea para montar una empresa de gallinas ponedoras en su comunidad.
A Lorenzo, que quiere convertirse en profesor, le preocupa enormemente el problema de las drogas y el alcoholismo en su comunidad, ha visto a niños de 10 años bebiendo y fumando...el quiere un futuro mejor para el y los suyos.
Cada uno de ellos tiene una historia que contar y todos ellos se merecen una oportundiad para un futuro mejor. Por todo ello vuestra financiacion y vuestras donaciones son tan importantes para ellos.
The workshop was run by Tereso JoJ Cosme, Valle de Guatemala`s University Director. He talked about the importance of identifying the problems of each community, deciding the urgency of the major problems, analysing the causes that generate them and working as a group to find practical solutions. He put special emphasis in the need to speak up but also the ability to listen to the rest of the group to get to a successful consensus before getting down to work.
It was impressive to see the level of interest, involvement and participation of the women and youth! They are eager to bring change to their communities!
And here they are,
Zoila Guarax, Amilcar Zapeta, Elizabeth Vasquez, Rodolfo Guarcax, Dominga, Nicolas Chiyal, Lidia Pich, Lorenzzo Coj, Aracely Alvarez & Domingo Macario.
This faces represent the future of Guatemala. They all dream of going to University to have the opportunity of a better life and bring change to their communities, but they are also aware of their financial limitations....
Aracely would like to study Law, but when she graduates later this year she needs to start working to help pay the studies of her younger sister.
Rodolfo wants to become an agriculturist, he would love to study in the University of Costa Rica, but the fees are in USdollars and the University grant only covers 60%. He also has this idea of creating a chicken farm bussiness on his community.
Lorenzo, who wants to become a teacher, is very concern about the problem of drugs and alcoholism in his community. He has seen kids as young as 10 drinking and smoking. He wants a better future for him and those around him.
Each of them has a personal story to tell and all of them deserve an opportunity to a better future; thats why your funding & donations for the Education program are so important for them.
Hoy quiero presentaros a algunos de los estudiantes que se benefician del programa de becas escolares de Tradiciones Mayas. Formaron parte de un taller sobre liderazgo e iniciativa junto con las mujeres tejedoras representando cada una de las comunidades.
El taller fue impartido por Tereso Joj Cosme, Director de la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Tereso hablo de la importancia de identificar los problemas prioritarios de cada comunidad, decidir conjuntamente la urgencia de cada uno de ellos, analizar las causas que los crearon y buscar soluciones practicas para cada uno de ellos.
Tambien hablo de la importancia de expresar la opinion de cada uno y escuchar las opiniones del resto de la comunidad para poner ideas en comun y llegar a un acuerdo safisfactorio antes de ponerse manos a la obra.
Fue impresionante ver el nivel de interes, implicacion y participacion tanto de los jovenes como de las mujeres, todos ellos estan ansiosos por generar cambios positivos en sus comunidades!
En la foto podeis ver a los estudiantes que participaron. Esas caras representan el futuro de Guatemala. Todos ellos sueñan con ir a la Universidad para mejorar su futuro y poder cambiar las cosas en sus comunidades, pero tambien son conscientes de sus limitaciones economicas.
A Aracely le gustaria estudiar Derecho, pero cuando se gradue este año, necesita ponerse a trabajar para ayudar a pagar los estudios de su hermana pequeña.
A Rodolfo le gustaria ser un agroculturista, quiere ir a la Universidad de Costa Rica, pero la beca que le conceden solo cubre el 60% del precio en dolares US. Tambien tiene una idea para montar una empresa de gallinas ponedoras en su comunidad.
A Lorenzo, que quiere convertirse en profesor, le preocupa enormemente el problema de las drogas y el alcoholismo en su comunidad, ha visto a niños de 10 años bebiendo y fumando...el quiere un futuro mejor para el y los suyos.
Cada uno de ellos tiene una historia que contar y todos ellos se merecen una oportundiad para un futuro mejor. Por todo ello vuestra financiacion y vuestras donaciones son tan importantes para ellos.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Maya Traditions Founder Wins Outstanding Service to the Fair Trade Community Award
Last month, at the Boston Fair Trade Futures Conference, our Founder, Jane Mintz was awarded the Special Award: Outstanding Service to the Fair Trade Community.
The award was given "In memory of Jane's boundless commitment to changing the lives of women in Guatemala through the preservation of traditional weaving and the expansion of economic opportunities."
Our friend (and co-owner of the enormously successful fair-trade wholesale business Global Crafts) Renice Jones accepted the award on Jane´s behalf.
We are honored that Jane´s dedication to our Guatemalan artisans, as well as her hard work in so many other areas (education, health, and poverty to name a few) have been recognized.
Jane is still our thoughts and hearts as we work to continue what she began so many years ago.
Thank you to the FTF for your recognition.
The award was given "In memory of Jane's boundless commitment to changing the lives of women in Guatemala through the preservation of traditional weaving and the expansion of economic opportunities."
Our friend (and co-owner of the enormously successful fair-trade wholesale business Global Crafts) Renice Jones accepted the award on Jane´s behalf.
We are honored that Jane´s dedication to our Guatemalan artisans, as well as her hard work in so many other areas (education, health, and poverty to name a few) have been recognized.
Jane is still our thoughts and hearts as we work to continue what she began so many years ago.
Thank you to the FTF for your recognition.
In Memorium of Jane Mintz
1943-2009
Friday, October 15, 2010
Leadership and Iniciative Project/Workshop #4: Design and Implementation of Leadership Projects
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Upcoming Events!!!
November is our continuation of our leadership training for Maya Traditions scholarship students. More details to come...In other news, our Production Director is a nominated recipient to attend the TINKUY de TEJEDORES: A Gathering of Weavers in Peru's Sacred Valley! We hope she receives this honor.
In addition, we are hoping to be selected to attend the Fair Trade Conference in Bilbao, Spain in late November.
In December we will have a Benefit Concert with special guests: Grammy Award Nominee Giovanni Pinzon and Pablo Robledo, Pat Volpi, and Josue Eleazar Aguilar to promote our new Environmental Initiative: “Reciclando para Mejorar Mi Mundo”.
More detail on this event will be posted separately.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Qiejel Comunity visit/ Visita a la Comunidad Quiejel
My name is Esti and I come from Northern Spain. This is my first week volunteering for Maya Traditions in Panajachel, Guatemala. The Foundation is based in Jucanya, very close to the amazingly beautiful Lake Atlitan, an area surrounded by Kakchiquel, Kiche and Tzutuhil Maya comunities.
On thursday we went to visit one of the women weavers comunities we work with. The remote Qiejel community.
I travelled with Herlinda, a Kiche Maya girl who distributes and supervises the weavers work in the different areas.
The trip to the community was an adventure for me. First we took one of the colorful local buses to Los Encuentros, which is amazing the amount of people those buses can fit!!!,Then we jumped into a van to a crossroad known as La Vuelta and once there we waited for about an hour for a pick up truck to pass by and take us to the Comunity, but there was no traffic at all so we ended up walking for another hour through a forest road.
We finally arrived at the remote comunity of 5 women ( Sebastiana Morales, her daughter Yolanda Kalgua, Maria Macario, Elena Morales and Maria Tol) who were paciently weaving while waiting for us. There was a little kid with them named Nestor who, as soon as he saw us coming started crying. Apparently he thought I was a doctor going to give him an injection!. I gave him some "healthy" cookies and he was fine. Nestor gave me an "unhealthy" apple in return. :)
The meeting with the women was in Kiche language.Herlinda distributed the work and listened to the women concerns. The Fundation provides them with high quality thread, works with them on the designs and the women put their artistic skills to work. My hard work was to take some photos so that whoever is reading this gets to know these beautiful women.
On the way back we jumped onto one of those trucks full of standing people on the back. It was quite a ride,very exiting for a newlyarrived volunteer!
Mi nombre es Esti y vengo del Pais Vasco. Esta es mi primera semana como voluntaria en Tradiciones Maya con base en Panajachel, Guatemala. La fundaciòn esta en el barrio de Jucan Ya, muy cerquita del maravilloso Lago Atlitan, rodeado de aldeas predominantemente Maya de habla Kiche, Kakchiquel y Tzutuhil.
El jueves pasado visitamos la Comunidad Quiejel. Una remota comunidad de mujeres tejedoras que tabaja dentro de la Fundacion.
Realicè el viaje con Herlinda, una mujer Maya Kiche que se encarga de distribuir y supervisar el trabajo de las mujeres en las diferentes comunidades.
El viaje fue toda una aventura para mi.Primero tomamos uno de los coloridos autobuses locales hasta Los Encuentros, es increible la cantidad de gente que puede caber en esos pequeños asientos! Despues viajamos en una furgoneta hasta un cruce de carreteras conocido como La Vuelta y alli esperamos sin fortuna a que pasara una furgoneta para llevarnos hasta la comunidad. Despues de casi una hora de espera decidimos empezar a caminar por una frondosa carretera local rodeada de vegetacion. Para cuando llegamos a la comunidad las 5 mujeres, Sebastiana Morales, su hija Yolanda Kalgua, Maria Macario, Elena Morales y Maria Tol estaban pacientemente esperando mientras hablaban y tejian.
Con ellas estaba Nestor, un nieto de Sebastiana que empezò a llorar en cuanto nos vio llegar. Pensò que habiamos ido hasta alli para ponerle una vacuna!... Le di unas galletas y se tranquilizò. El me dio una manzana a cambio.:)
La reuniòn con las mujeres se llevo a cabo en lengua Kiche. Herlinda distribuyò el trabajo y tomo nota de las demandas y preocupaciones de las mujeres.La fundacion les da hilo de gran calidad y trabaja con ellas en los diseños de los productos. Despues son ellas las que ponen en marcha su dominio del tejido y su creatividad para realizar el trabajo. Mi dura tarea esta vez fue sacar unas fotos para que quienes esteis leyendo este blog conozcais a estas maravillosas mujeres.
El camino de vuelta lo realizamos en una camioneta llena de gente viajando de pie en su parte trasera. Por suerte hacia un dia precioso. Toda una aventura para una voluntaria recièn llegada a Guatemala!
On thursday we went to visit one of the women weavers comunities we work with. The remote Qiejel community.
I travelled with Herlinda, a Kiche Maya girl who distributes and supervises the weavers work in the different areas.
The trip to the community was an adventure for me. First we took one of the colorful local buses to Los Encuentros, which is amazing the amount of people those buses can fit!!!,Then we jumped into a van to a crossroad known as La Vuelta and once there we waited for about an hour for a pick up truck to pass by and take us to the Comunity, but there was no traffic at all so we ended up walking for another hour through a forest road.
We finally arrived at the remote comunity of 5 women ( Sebastiana Morales, her daughter Yolanda Kalgua, Maria Macario, Elena Morales and Maria Tol) who were paciently weaving while waiting for us. There was a little kid with them named Nestor who, as soon as he saw us coming started crying. Apparently he thought I was a doctor going to give him an injection!. I gave him some "healthy" cookies and he was fine. Nestor gave me an "unhealthy" apple in return. :)
The meeting with the women was in Kiche language.Herlinda distributed the work and listened to the women concerns. The Fundation provides them with high quality thread, works with them on the designs and the women put their artistic skills to work. My hard work was to take some photos so that whoever is reading this gets to know these beautiful women.
Mi nombre es Esti y vengo del Pais Vasco. Esta es mi primera semana como voluntaria en Tradiciones Maya con base en Panajachel, Guatemala. La fundaciòn esta en el barrio de Jucan Ya, muy cerquita del maravilloso Lago Atlitan, rodeado de aldeas predominantemente Maya de habla Kiche, Kakchiquel y Tzutuhil.
El jueves pasado visitamos la Comunidad Quiejel. Una remota comunidad de mujeres tejedoras que tabaja dentro de la Fundacion.
Realicè el viaje con Herlinda, una mujer Maya Kiche que se encarga de distribuir y supervisar el trabajo de las mujeres en las diferentes comunidades.
El viaje fue toda una aventura para mi.Primero tomamos uno de los coloridos autobuses locales hasta Los Encuentros, es increible la cantidad de gente que puede caber en esos pequeños asientos! Despues viajamos en una furgoneta hasta un cruce de carreteras conocido como La Vuelta y alli esperamos sin fortuna a que pasara una furgoneta para llevarnos hasta la comunidad. Despues de casi una hora de espera decidimos empezar a caminar por una frondosa carretera local rodeada de vegetacion. Para cuando llegamos a la comunidad las 5 mujeres, Sebastiana Morales, su hija Yolanda Kalgua, Maria Macario, Elena Morales y Maria Tol estaban pacientemente esperando mientras hablaban y tejian.
Con ellas estaba Nestor, un nieto de Sebastiana que empezò a llorar en cuanto nos vio llegar. Pensò que habiamos ido hasta alli para ponerle una vacuna!... Le di unas galletas y se tranquilizò. El me dio una manzana a cambio.:)
La reuniòn con las mujeres se llevo a cabo en lengua Kiche. Herlinda distribuyò el trabajo y tomo nota de las demandas y preocupaciones de las mujeres.La fundacion les da hilo de gran calidad y trabaja con ellas en los diseños de los productos. Despues son ellas las que ponen en marcha su dominio del tejido y su creatividad para realizar el trabajo. Mi dura tarea esta vez fue sacar unas fotos para que quienes esteis leyendo este blog conozcais a estas maravillosas mujeres.
El camino de vuelta lo realizamos en una camioneta llena de gente viajando de pie en su parte trasera. Por suerte hacia un dia precioso. Toda una aventura para una voluntaria recièn llegada a Guatemala!
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