Weaving Futures with the Past
New Project just starting: Education - Employment - Empowerment - Environment
Look at these colors! This is the first completed weaving for this newly forming Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurial Center in La Minas Guatemala. This gorgeous country is well known for their extremely detailed cloth weaving styles, that are amplified with their rich colors as well as embroidery and ornamental stitching that are designed into some of their clothing. The colors and design for the cloth shown in these photos were designed by the women shown and reflect the colors of the new AEP Community Center that is initiating and supporting this entrepreneurial program.
The common method is called "Backstrap Weaving". This method is a loom set up with sticks and thread, with the main top piece looped around a tree, and the bottom piece secured with a strap around the back of the weaver. It is typically the indigenous women that do the backstrap weaving, and historically the larger in place looms are usually men. A woven piece such as the runner shown above takes weeks make and includes setting up the threads, weaving the cloth, and then, depending on the design of the piece they may add detailed embroidery and stitching on top.
The common method is called "Backstrap Weaving". This method is a loom set up with sticks and thread, with the main top piece looped around a tree, and the bottom piece secured with a strap around the back of the weaver. It is typically the indigenous women that do the backstrap weaving, and historically the larger in place looms are usually men. A woven piece such as the runner shown above takes weeks make and includes setting up the threads, weaving the cloth, and then, depending on the design of the piece they may add detailed embroidery and stitching on top.
"Creating futures while preserving land and indigenous culture"
For their traditional clothing, the fabric weave and colors as well as the embroidery designs on top are often unique to individual villages. Huipiles (pronounced: whip-heels) are the incredible ornate and detailed tops that the women make with back strap woven panels and embroidery. These are worn daily with woven skirts and belts.
While food, clothing, supplies and housing in Guatemala cost the same, or more than they do in the United States the price for labor is beyond ridiculously low making the families unable to pay for school fees after the 5th grade, or any type of medical, dental assistance, or access to potable water. With children and adults heading to the fields to support their families with the basics (rice and beans) their $1.50-2.00 per day for labor does not allow them to continue with education, receive medical care or job opportunities and an endless cycle of poverty continues. In addition, while women may spend weeks creating a beautiful weaving for which they had to pay for the materials, they are typically offered incredibly low prices for their incredible art and hours of work. Often it does not even cover the supplies. It is a shame to see the incredible works of art that they create with often way more than 100 hours into the making to be offered incredibly low prices for their work.
At GAF we like to put this perspective on it. If you entered an Artisan shop anywhere in the US, and saw a handmade, and amazing weaving that may also include embroidery and other details in the design and took many weeks to create.... what do you think the cost of that item would be. Typically, the weavings you see are of art museum quality, and I would guess that most people would not barter with the artisan shop or museum owner to receive the art at the lowest possible price. GAF is hoping to gain support to sponsor women to begin their own weaving practice at a cooperative entrepreneurial center with adjacent cooperative daycare.
The women who are not working are able to care for the children, an option that was not available before. Sometimes children as young as 5 years old may be left with younger children to care for them while their parents work in the field. With this emerging program, the children may receive care, schooling, nutritional and medical support together with a community of women in their own village, while the women receive the same as well as the growing supportive women's community. Many of the women had stated that they felt all alone and isolated with no opportunities before this idea was proposed.
In addition to creating jobs in the rural village, the idea for the program is to combine it with women who will receive training in sewing, on sewing machines in Guatemala City where they will combine components of the weaving with recycled materials to create new and artistically unique designed products such as pocket books, totes, jean jackets and other items. This integrated project has not yet begun, but we are looking for continued sponsors. This program will create jobs for mothers and empower them to support their family with dignity and pride as they learn new skills and gain opportunities to keep their children in school and thereby providing opportunities for their children as they grow up. Women and families that attend the parenting school/training center are working towards reuniting with children that have been placed in care due to neglect or abuse. A requirement of receiving support in the form of food and school supplies, psychological counseling and medical and dental attention is that they are continually employed, and their children are continually in school. They have access to this support with their personal commitment and hard work towards bettering their lives and the lives of their children.
This project is in full alignment with the goals and priorities of GAF which include supporting successful Guatemalan-run programs to eradicate the root causes of poverty, malnutrition and lack of access to education, clean water and jobs. The program also focuses on creating artisan works that are deeply invested in preserving this iconic artisan practice of the indigenous people, while also recycling/upcycling existing fabrics and products that results in beautiful works than can be sold with the most minimal impact on the environment as possible.
While food, clothing, supplies and housing in Guatemala cost the same, or more than they do in the United States the price for labor is beyond ridiculously low making the families unable to pay for school fees after the 5th grade, or any type of medical, dental assistance, or access to potable water. With children and adults heading to the fields to support their families with the basics (rice and beans) their $1.50-2.00 per day for labor does not allow them to continue with education, receive medical care or job opportunities and an endless cycle of poverty continues. In addition, while women may spend weeks creating a beautiful weaving for which they had to pay for the materials, they are typically offered incredibly low prices for their incredible art and hours of work. Often it does not even cover the supplies. It is a shame to see the incredible works of art that they create with often way more than 100 hours into the making to be offered incredibly low prices for their work.
At GAF we like to put this perspective on it. If you entered an Artisan shop anywhere in the US, and saw a handmade, and amazing weaving that may also include embroidery and other details in the design and took many weeks to create.... what do you think the cost of that item would be. Typically, the weavings you see are of art museum quality, and I would guess that most people would not barter with the artisan shop or museum owner to receive the art at the lowest possible price. GAF is hoping to gain support to sponsor women to begin their own weaving practice at a cooperative entrepreneurial center with adjacent cooperative daycare.
The women who are not working are able to care for the children, an option that was not available before. Sometimes children as young as 5 years old may be left with younger children to care for them while their parents work in the field. With this emerging program, the children may receive care, schooling, nutritional and medical support together with a community of women in their own village, while the women receive the same as well as the growing supportive women's community. Many of the women had stated that they felt all alone and isolated with no opportunities before this idea was proposed.
In addition to creating jobs in the rural village, the idea for the program is to combine it with women who will receive training in sewing, on sewing machines in Guatemala City where they will combine components of the weaving with recycled materials to create new and artistically unique designed products such as pocket books, totes, jean jackets and other items. This integrated project has not yet begun, but we are looking for continued sponsors. This program will create jobs for mothers and empower them to support their family with dignity and pride as they learn new skills and gain opportunities to keep their children in school and thereby providing opportunities for their children as they grow up. Women and families that attend the parenting school/training center are working towards reuniting with children that have been placed in care due to neglect or abuse. A requirement of receiving support in the form of food and school supplies, psychological counseling and medical and dental attention is that they are continually employed, and their children are continually in school. They have access to this support with their personal commitment and hard work towards bettering their lives and the lives of their children.
This project is in full alignment with the goals and priorities of GAF which include supporting successful Guatemalan-run programs to eradicate the root causes of poverty, malnutrition and lack of access to education, clean water and jobs. The program also focuses on creating artisan works that are deeply invested in preserving this iconic artisan practice of the indigenous people, while also recycling/upcycling existing fabrics and products that results in beautiful works than can be sold with the most minimal impact on the environment as possible.
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AEP Parenting, Family Support & Training School |
Village of San Jose Chacaya |
Field of Sugar Snap Peas - We want to keep the kids walking through the fields with access to school, not in the fields working.
Want to help
Sponsor a weaver and their family - $36 a month
Purchase supplies for a weaver - $40
Contribute to the electricity bill in the weaving and sewing centers - $25
Donate to the weaving & sewing classes - $75
Donate any amount towards the Women's Entrepreneurial Center
Purchase supplies for a weaver - $40
Contribute to the electricity bill in the weaving and sewing centers - $25
Donate to the weaving & sewing classes - $75
Donate any amount towards the Women's Entrepreneurial Center
