Project Title: MayaWorks

Location: Guatemala

Grant Amount: $50,000

Grantee Website: www.mayaworks.org

Areas of Impact: Economic Sustainability, Education & Literacy

Mission of MayaWorks
MayaWorks empowers indigenous women of Guatemala to end their cycle of poverty, achieve economic security, and create a brighter future for themselves and their families by providing markets for their handcrafted products, access to microcredit loans and expanded educational opportunities. DFW's grant of $50,000 will directly affect 125 women and indirectly aid 500 others.

Summary
Textiles are an integral part of Mayan culture and weaving is often passed down from mother to daughter and young girls often learn to weave even before they start school. The MayaWorks social venture seeks to open U.S. markets for traditional Guatemalan handicrafts, providing a source of income for women. The opportunity to develop other income-generating business ventures is possible through the program's microcredit process. Basic education and literacy classes are also provided.

Why We Love This
We love this program because it allows women to make a living while preserving the art of traditional weaving and other crafts, and it focuses on education as an additional method of empowering women and girls. We love the fact that they also give scholarships to the daughters of the artisans to pay school fees, helping to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty.

We have a special affinity for the concept expressed on the MayaWorks logo - “Interweaving Lives, Discovering One World”, as it complements the mission and vision of Dining for Women so beautifully. As our Dinner Affirmation says, “May we all be able to feast together some day.”