The Indigenous women participating have a history and culture of weaving but lack access to resources and a viable market, making it nearly impossible to earn a living from their traditional talents. These women have endured extreme poverty, the Guatemalan Civil War, discrimination, and a lack of economic and educational opportunities.

Through technical training and business development support, artisans build their skills and earn income by participating in fulfilling orders with major international retailers that include Levi’s ®, Shopbop, Von Maur, Liverpool Los Angeles, and Everything But Water, amongst others! The skills developed during training also support women in revenue-earning activities beyond this partnership, as the business development support empowers women to become entrepreneurs with their own small enterprises.

Now several years into the program, FFTP and MG are seeing a significant rise in artisan income, and number of women opening bank accounts as well as saving more often. We foresee this trend will continue to increase as our Market Access program will bring more opportunities to women who now have the skills and know - how to take advantage of them.