The Jolom Mayaetik (“Mayan Weavers”) cooperative in Chiapas has 300 indigenous women designing and weaving textiles, but lack business skills to expand sales locally, nationally and internationally.
Building the capacity of Jolom Mayaetik to increase its sales is essential to its expansion. The co-op could be producing and selling thousands more of its products on the global market if provided the necessary computer, accounting and marketing skills. This expansion will result in a steady income for 300 indigenous women in Chiapas. With these skills, the co-op could also create a website and print catalog of their goods.
A full-time trainer will teach the leaders of the cooperative computer, accounting and marketing skills. With the support of volunteers, the cooperative will create a new product line, design a website, and produce a catalog.
300 women will be able to sell their handcrafted products at a fair price, increasing their income and allowing them to send their children to school. The business will grow, allowing more women to join.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
