Since 1997, Maya Traditions has supported the children of our artisan partners through our Youth Education Program. Here, volunteer Marlene shares her experience meeting student Ana Maria Churunel Morales: Two chicken busses, one pickup truck, and a ten minute walk to get to the community of Chuacruz, a rural town filled with corn fields, tucked in the countryside near Sololá. I traveled to Chuacruz with Maya Traditions’ staff member Marisol to meet with the local weaving cooperative and a few of our artisan partners’ children. Ana Maria was one of them. At 15, she is a very friendly and sweet
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Posted by Maya Traditions on September 17, 2015
At Maya Traditions, we believe that education lays the foundation to a positive and successful development of each individual – mentally and physically. Through education, children and youth learn how to critically analyze their personal, political, and economic environments. Education also helps develop personality—along with strengths, confidence, and creativity— supporting individuals make thoughtful decisions in the short- and long-term. We are convinced that educating youth and children provides the most important foundation for respect, equality, justice, peace, and freedom within a country. As James Garfield said: “Without education, neither freedom nor justice can be maintained.” Today, Guatemalan youth face increasingly difficult conditions,
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Muy buenos días! We are happy to report that Maya Traditions Foundation is now an official, government-certified 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization! While we have been a nonprofit in Guatemala since 2007, being a non-profit in the United States is key to our mission and will support our growth as an organization. We are not in this for the money. We are in this to support indigenous female artisans as they work to strengthen their communities, earn a fair living, and preserve and promote the art of backstrap weaving. We are nothing without our artisan partners and this designation will allow us to continue
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If you’ve had the opportunity to visit Guatemala and meet Maya Traditions’ artisans, staff, and volunteers in person, you know that you have found a remarkable place. This month, we asked our incredible staff what makes our work at Maya Traditions special. Here is what they had to say: ‘Maya Traditions has strong, long-lasting relationships with artisans and works to support them as whole women not just artisans.’ ‘We convert the needs of our artisans into opportunities, offering them the training and tools necessary so that they themselves can change thier own situations. For me, that’s true empowerment.’ ‘We are a foundation
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Maya Traditions Foundation partners with individual donors to support students–the children of our artisans–to attend university. Due to the high cost of inscription and monthly fees of university, many indigenous families are unable to send their children on to university. We are working to increase our impact and the amount of university scholarships we are able to offer. Here student Miguel David Vasquez Asjoc, son of artisan Lucia, shares with us a bit on his life and studies. Dear friends, I hope everyone had an amazing Semana Santa, or holy week. I would like to tell you that this month I had a wonderful time
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Posted by Erin Kökdil on April 13, 2015
Time flies, yet I feel like time flies even faster in Guatemala. This March marked my second year working with Maya Traditions Foundation. It has been a long, often arduous journey, but one that has lifted my spirits and filled me with indescribable happiness. When I first began with Maya Traditions in March of 2013, I knew I had become part of a very special organization, one that is dedicated to fulfilling its mission through highlighting the gift & skill of others. This became clear early on, during a site visit to the rural community of Quiejel. We traveled two hours
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Maya Traditions Foundation partners with individual donors to support students–the children of our artisans–to attend university. Due to the high cost of inscription and monthly fees of university, many indigenous families are unable to send their children on to university. We are working to increase our impact and the amount of university scholarships we are able to offer. Here student Carmen Tzoc Portillo, daughter of artisan Magdalena, shares with us a bit on her life and her studies. Hello! It is a pleasure for me to share with you the progress in my studies. This year I am very pleased to
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Posted by Maya Traditions on February 26, 2015
Donna DeGennaro, Founder & Director of our partner Unlocking Silent Histories(USH) reflects on the past, describes her hopes for the future, and shares exciting new developments with the USH: Maya Traditions Chapter. We are currently fundraising for USH for 2015. Join USH & Maya Traditions, be part of the story: http://igg.me/at/ush This March marks the 1.5-year anniversary of Unlocking Silent Histories non-profit status and just passes the date that begins our third year partnering with Maya Traditions. In some ways our beginning seems like yesterday. At the same time, the numerous milestones and events that we can count make it feel like we have been
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Posted by Maya Traditions on February 24, 2015
Each year, Maya Traditions Foundation supports a select group of students–the children of our artisans–to attend university. Due to the high cost of inscription and monthly fees of university, many indigenous families are unable to send their children on to university. We are working to increase our impact and the amount of university scholarships we are able to offer. Here student Julia María Barreno, daughter of artisan Rosa from Patanatic, shares with us a bit on her studies. My name is Julia María Barreno and I would like to share with you to my new life experience. I am a student of
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Each year, Maya Traditions Foundation supports a select group of students–the children of our artisans–to attend university. Due to the high cost of inscription and monthly fees of university, many indigenous families are unable to send their children on to university. We are working to increase our impact and the amount of university scholarships we are able to offer. Here student Sucely Vásquez Pérez, daughter of artisan Vicenta, shares with us a bit on her life and her studies. Hola! My name is Sucely Vásquez Pérez and I am from San Juan La Laguna. I am currently a university student,
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