Belize
Maya Center Women, Belize
A couple of decades ago, some of the women of Maya Center Village, got together to sell their arts and crafts to tourists. In so doing, they maintained their rich and ancient culture while creating family income. Additional income was gained by selling entrance tickets to tourists entering the adjacent Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Both the villge and the Sanctuary are situated on the Southern Highway of the Stann Creek District of Belize.
Most of these warm and friendly women, from teens to seniors, sustain their culture with obvious pride. They wear traditional gold jewelry, and beautiful dresses of bright, clear colors. Together they are like exotic butterflies.
The villagers sell Mopan Maya embroidered blouses and other traditional clothing, herbs, and medicinal remedies from the forest, plaques intricately carved in slate, hand-made baskets, calabash containers, wood bowls, jewelry and other items.
Project Components: securing sewing machines, fabrics, and some related supplies.
Partners: S.H.A.R.E., Guelph, Canada has taken over this project. Two sewing machines and supplies were delivered to the village on February 5, 2009. From a phone conversation to the village in Fall 2009, we learned that two women had started a thriving sewing business. Villagers provide their own supplies and pay a modest fee to have thier school uniforms and other sewing projects made. This helps boost the village economy and saves people traveling to other villages.
www.shareagfoundation.org See pictures below.
