Earthquake Recovery for Chiapas & Oaxaca, Mexico

Last year in September, a 7.1 earthquake shook the Mexican territory, the second one in the month. The City of Puebla suffered damages to its infrastructure and a variety of important buildings for the community were left in disuse. Faced with this problem NGO Impacto started a program for the rehabilitation of “La Casa del Alfarero” (The House of the Potter).

La Casa del Alfarero is located on Ave. Don Juan de Palafox and Mendoza and old heritage building; inside the house is a 300-year-old oven. Several generations of potters have used it as their main source of livelihoods. Today it is in disuse due to the earthquake of September 19, 2017. This directly affects the community development and represents a danger for the continuity of the pottery practice. Addressing this problem is essential to keep alive the essence of the Barrio de La Luz, a neighborhood dedicated to this ancient clay production.

To reverse this situation, NGO Impacto developed the project: Restoration and consolidation of La Casa del Alfarero. Thereby, Impacto Barro seeks with this project:

• To reconstruct the oldest largest oven in Mexico, using environmentally friendly building techniques (with special attention to the recycling of fumes);
• To rescue ancestral knowledge of the neighborhood and participating communities and families;
• To protect the intangible heritage of the participating communities and masters of clay;
• To provide knowledge for the construction and/or modification of public policies that promote the sustainable development of the city of Puebla;
• To expand the groups of master craftsmen in the neighborhoods, as well as their capacities and techniques with a view to expanding their market to niche markets (restaurants) and contemporary utilitarian pieces;
• To promote the work of artisans using traditional techniques;
• To encourage entrepreneurship through product development, commercialization, and self-management;
• To transform the space into a center of learning and exchange of knowledge that detonates cultural development.

Going beyond the known territory and expanding towards new horizons, implies an arduous task of planning and joint action with the pottery craftsmen. This would not have been possible if not for your contribution, our donors. We want to thank you for your donations, as we are able to impact livelihoods holistically in the Barrio de la Luz community, the families and the hardworking potter masters. ¡Our team at Impacto wishes you, to your family and friends a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!