Sharing the Dream in Guatemala
  • About
    • Partners
    • Contact
    • Programs >
      • Artisan Development
      • Elder Center & Bead Shop
      • Scholarships
  • Shop
  • Boutique
  • Get Involved
    • Alternative Gifts
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Trips
  • Donate
  • News and Media
    • Videos
    • Newsletter
  • Blog

Celebrating International Women's Day

3/8/2020

1 Comment

 
​March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating women and their achievements.  Sharing the Dream is fortunate to work with many amazing women. Many of the artisans are women, the elders at the Elder Center are primarily women, the majority of the scholarship students are girls and young women, and Sharing the Dream is a women led organization.  We have found that by working with women, it improves their self-esteem.  This improved self-esteem means that their entire family, including their husband, looks at them differently, and often times treat them with more respect and equality. Women also invest in the health, education, and general well-being of their children and family, which leads to positive changes in future generations.

Isabel, our Artisan Development coordinator, is one of these amazing women.  Years ago, a little girl from a mountain village was introduced to Diane.  She wanted to go to school, but her father had died and there wasn’t any money.  Even though she was only in middle school, she would go to school in the morning and weave by candlelight at night to earn a little money.  She was malnourished and the family ate primarily tortillas and salt.  They spoke very little Spanish.  The man who introduced them asked for a scholarship for Isa so that she didn’t have to weave at night.  A generous woman from Sharing the Dream sponsored Isabel through middle and high school. 

Isabel lived at the Sharing the Dream office during high school and cleaned in exchange for her rent.  It was then that we discovered her talent for a variety of handicraft techniques.  Isabel started as an assistant to our Artisan Development coordinator, and when that person left, Isa was hired in that position.  

Years later, Isa is still with Sharing the Dream and is doing a great job. Her shyness disappeared as she became more confident. She is now married and has two little boys, who are healthy, well-nourished, and well loved. Her oldest son goes to school, which he loves. Isa is proud of her family.

What a difference having an opportunity made for this shy village girl. Isa is poised, accomplished, a terrific mother, and a wonderful role model.  Isa was given a chance.  That is what most people here need.  By purchasing a product from Sharing the Dream, you are providing opportunities to people in Guatemala so that they can provide for their families and change their lives. 
https://www.sharingthedream.org/donate.html
Picture
Isabel winds thread to prepare a loom in 2004
Picture
Isabel and her sons
Picture
Isabel works with a group of foot loom weavers from the community of Chamaque during a workshop
1 Comment
Matt Boyle link
10/10/2023 10:26:22 pm

Apprecciate this blog post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Sharing the Dream in Guatemala

    Stay up to date on the latest news in our blog posts. 

    Archives

    October 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    April 2022
    August 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    January 2017
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    Artisan Development
    Casa Guatemala
    COVID 19 Updates
    COVID-19 Updates
    Scholarship Students
    Sharing The Dream Spotlight

    RSS Feed

Picture



About
​
 Store

Contact Us
Friends of the Sharing the Dream in Guatemala is a
501(c)(3) organization under the IRS Code. Your donations are tax deductible.
Picture
10 W. Main Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
605-624-6895
  • About
    • Partners
    • Contact
    • Programs >
      • Artisan Development
      • Elder Center & Bead Shop
      • Scholarships
  • Shop
  • Boutique
  • Get Involved
    • Alternative Gifts
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Trips
  • Donate
  • News and Media
    • Videos
    • Newsletter
  • Blog