CORR – The Jute Works, Bangladesh

(Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation)

For over 30 years, Concern America has been purchasing the skillful crafts from this special nonprofit organization. We share the same goals in “organizing the poor, neglected, women and indigenous society by providing them proper training to help improve their economic situations, their working skills, and their leadership potential, regardless of caste, creed and race.”

La Semilla de Dios, El Salvador

(The Seed of God)

La Semilla de Dios, meaning “The Seed of God,” is a cooperative of artisans of limited economic resources who make a variety of wooden items painted in the famous La Palma region folk art style. Men do the carpentry, women the hand painting and finishing. The cooperative owns a piece of land in the mountains outside of town where they plant and sustainably harvest trees to supply about 40% of their wood. The income of this cooperative provides better nutrition and educational opportunities for their children.

Flor del Campo, Guatemala 

(Flowers of the Field)

Flor del Campo translates to Flowers of the Field.
“Eight of us began to work together in 1983, having been widowed as a result of the internal armed conflict in our country of Guatemala. Now we are 25 Kaqchikel women who work together to improve our lives.”  Concern America helped train these women to run a sustainable business. They now work as their own, independent cooperative, producing gorgeous hand woven items made on back strap and floor looms, using naturally dyed thread.

Cuchareros de Petén, Guatemala

(The Spoon Makers of Petén)

The cuchareros are a cooperative of rural farmers who were refugees or internally displaced due to the country’s recent civil war. Their gorgeous spoons are hand carved out of the local, naturally hard woods that are native to the humid jungles of northern Guatemala. The woods used are all certified as sustainable, preserving local forests while doubling the income of the cooperative’s families.

Mujeres Sembrando la Vida, Mexico

 (Women Sowing Life)

The cooperative of Mujeres Sembrando la Vida (Women Sowing Life) is a collective of artisans in the Zinacatán region of Chiapas, Mexico that formed in 2008. The artisans’ beautiful weavings and embroidery integrate images from their daily lives, most notably the flowers in the numerous nurseries that are found throughout Zinacatán. In addition to the life-sustaining craft income, a full 10% of all sales is re-invested in their cooperative.

Las Abejas de Acteal, Chiapas, Mexico

(The Bees)

Las Abejas is Spanish for “the bees.” It is the name chosen by the group because working cooperatively makes more “honey.” In recent decades, most of their families were forced off their land. On Dec. 22, 1997, 45 members of Las Abejas, while participating in a Mass for peace, were killed.  Collectively, the group continues their struggle for peace and justice while earning a living through weaving and embroidering.

The Craft

The Artisans

The Impact

The Environment