Fair Trade Artisan Handcrafts

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Projects And Programs

Student Sponsorship Program

Helping students receive an education is a priority with Education And More and we help students of all ages to attend and excel in school. We partner with Christian churches for the sponsorship program in order to offer many benefits to each student. They will attend their school for classes and also attend Christian Education classes at church to learn about the love of Jesus Christ. They also receive other benefits through sponsorship which includes basket of food at Christmas, access to emergency health care and food fund, a Bible, new pair of shoes, backpack and school supplies plus a caring community of Christian believers at their church.

Please consider sponsorship for a life changing gift to a student in Guatemala

Read more about sponsorship!

Colegio Cristiano Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawning Christian School)

Nuevo Amanecer is located in the village of San Juan La Laguna on the shores of Lake Atitlan and has approximately 250 children in grades K thru 6th. This school has been a blessing for the families with school age children in San Juan la Laguna because of the wonderful, dedicated teachers and staff members that work very hard to give a quality education to the children. They are in the process of adding a second level to the school so that all classes can be moved out of the original cramped structure, however, it will take months to finish because they are able to do only as donations come in for the new classrooms. A new "Basico" program was added with the start of school in January 2008 which is similar to middle school in the United States. At present they are able only to have 7th and 8th grade classes but plan to have 9th grade classes in 2009. It is an important addition for the school but also very important for the village of San Juan La Laguna. In the past children that wanted to further their education beyond the 6th grade had few options and most that could afford it traveled to a neighboring town that did have a middle school program. The parents have been asking for several years for Nuevo Amanecer to start a Basico program and now the dream is a reality.

Nuevo Amanecer needs help to be able to keep the school and the new Basico program running in addition to building the second level of the school, so Education And More has started a special campaign fund to help the school. The money you donate makes a lifelong impact to these children.

Artisan Groups

We are working with several artisan groups to help them market their weavings, jewelry and other handcrafts. This is an important endeavor because it gives the artisan a fair wage for their work so they are able to help support their familes. We pay a fair daily wage (Fair Trade price) for the handcrafts which is vital to the artisan. When the artisan has no other place to market their art, they often sell to wholesalers who do not pay a fair price for the work and then the artisan does not have enough money to even feed her family. To learn more about Fair Trade and the guidelines we follow see our blog and read the posts about Fair Trade.

Working within Fair Trade Principals is a tremendous benefit for the artisan groups. They are albe to earn an income to support their families and have dignity in their work.

Meet and learn more about our Women's Groups!

We also are helping them develop ideas for new products as well as helping them develop business plans, organize their groups to produce crafts more effeciently, to develop new income producing programs, and develop classes to teach backstrap weaving.

We need groups to host a bazaar/sale of the Fair Trade artisan weavings, jewelry and handcrafts. We have fundraising programs for school or church groups that are interested in helping the schools and artisans in Guatemala while raising funds for their organization.

More information on hosting an 'Artisan Market' Sale!

Home -- Sponsorship -- Host a Handcraft Sale -- Artisan Groups -- News -- Help

"He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,

"But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy."

Proverbs 14:31