Widows of a brutal civil, 32 women were left, not only heartbroken, but also with no means to support their families.
The Maya Skills Project in Guatemala sought to change that and, for the last ten years, has empowered the women and their families to fend for themselves and earn a little bit of self respect.
In a small village in the Guatemalan Highlands, the women design and create their own brand of beaded artwork and jewelry, using their lifelong master-weaving skills as a base.
The fruits of the Maya Skills Project’s labour will be on sale among one of 12 vendors at next month’s annual Fair Trade Fair, hosted Saturday, Dec. 6 by the non-profit Richmond Kairos group at Gilmore Park United Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“They had no way of supporting each other, so they initially put together a book, telling their story,” said Maya Skills Project volunteer Doris Kizinna.
“But they still had no means to raise their families, so we helped them utilize their skills to create the products they now sell.
“We also help them transport their goods across the U.S. and Canada. I go down to Guatemala every year and they are always so, so appreciative of what we’re trying to do for them.”
Kizinna said none of the families could afford to put their children into skills training, until the project came along.
Hundreds of people have turned out every year for the last ten years or so of the Fair Trade Fair.
And one of the organizers, Tim Le Drew, pastor at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, said he’s expecting more of the same this time around.
“In addition to the incredible opportunity to purchase a wide variety of fair trade holiday gifts, there is incredible live marimba music and different ethnic foods for sale,” said Le Drew in an email.
At the fair, numerous Fair Trade groups display their wares, offering the public some unique options for Christmas, while at the same time ensuring that those who fashioned the gifts are paid fairly.
