Empowering Mayan women through ancient textiles

At Impacto, we constantly seek to strengthen the artisan women from Los Altos de Chiapas. Even though the final goal is to improve their working conditions, to achieve this goal it is necessary that every craftswoman has skills related to their personal development. Therefore, we need to address different issues that affect them both in their personal and working lives.

For this reason, we have implemented new methodologies that develop the self-management capabilities of the groups with whom we collaborate. With an interdisciplinary team, we created workshops on Human Development, which are divided into three modules: Teamwork, Self-esteem and Leadership.

In other words, it is essential that the artisans develop healthy working relations within their communities. This issue is addressed in the module “Teamwork”. However, to develop a healthy exchange of knowledge within the groups, it is necessary to open spaces in which artisans address their daily and personal lives problems. Therefore, the module “Teamwork” is complemented with the module “Self-esteem”. At last, we consider that developing healthy work dynamics requires that every artisan considers herself as an active member of her group, increasing the participation within it. The module “Leadership” addresses this matter.

Although the modules are imparted separately, they complement each other. Also, we make follow-ups to ensure that, based on the artisans comments, the workshops address their individual needs. Always making sure to implement activities and dynamics in which the artisans are able to apply their knowledge on the craft of their textiles.

Thanks to your donations, we can continue these actions. We invite you to collaborate with us to achieve comprehensive development and empowerment of artisan women from Los Altos de Chiapas.

In the region of Los Altos de Chiapas, the gender gap between men and women is considerable. Artisan women find it challenging to work within the community but, at NGO Impacto, we believe this gap can be reduced through empowerment.

While facing this problem, Impacto implemented a series of workshops in the municipalities of San Juan Cancuc and Santiago el Pinar to strengthen the weavers' knowledge and methods. Through workshops on basic principles in weaving, color pallet, and product development, we sought to give craftswomen tools to merchandise their products at a fair price and, therefore, earn a sustainable income to support their families, their children, and their community.

The knowledge imparted in these workshops was translated into the making of dresses for girls. The artisans used the tools that Impacto facilitated -in relation to their own knowledge. The development of an innovative product such as the one achieved, helps the craftswomen to offer differentiated pieces, allowing them to reach higher-end markets, which offers them greater profits for their work. The objective of this exercise was to unite the talent of the fashion designers, with the knowledge and skills of the artisans. Also, we counted with the help from daughters of the community, we generated a catalog of photos to show and promote the work of the artisans. Both daughters and craftswomen felt very comfortable and congratulated us for the workshops and photographs.

The empowerment of artisans is essential to reducing the gender gap, and it's even more important doing it by means of their work in textile, back-strap techniques (considering that their crafts and garments are a projection of their worldview, identity, and lifestyle within their communities); by giving true value to their work, we empower female artisans and their communities' cultures.

We thank you for the support you have given us through your donations; without them, we would not be able to generate the necessary impact in the communities in which we work. Is through your donations that we are able to reach more women and communities. ¡Our team at Impacto wishes you, to your family and friends a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!