10 women have been operating artisan ceramic workshop "Las Mariposas" since 2002 with great success: they are now a well established group producing high-quality products. They are able to support their families, while assuring that local traditions are kept alive. Recently they learned how to create their own clay molds which will make their work more efficient. However, first they need your help! Help them purchase clay and the primary molds for the development of working molds.
High unemployment in the Sierra Gorda forces many local people, particularly men, to migrate to the USA. Women and children are left behind with no immediate income and few skills. Returning, migrants bring new cultural values which jeopardize old local traditions. In 2002 a group of women created a ceramic workshop where they recently learned how to produce their own molds to increase their output. Thus, they require financial resources to purchase primary molds and clay for their production.
In Las Mariposas, women are dedicated to the creation of unique and hand-crafted pieces that blend old with new. Their craft enables them to preserve local traditions and pass them on to the next generations. Furthermore they are able to provide for their families and live an independent life. Developing molds will enable them to work more efficiently and expand the variety of their products. As a result they will be able to serve a wider clientele.
Rural women obtain entrepreneurial skills, take ownership of an enterprise, and are able to support their families. Their work and lifestyle challenge traditional gender roles that remain strong in the region. The group serves as an empowering example to other local women who are more likely to follow its lead. They are a living example of sustainability, supporting local sustainable clay mine, preserving local traditions, and encouraging other local entrepreneurs to do the same.
