Ruth and Naomi, named after two widows from the Bible, began in 1986 following the bombing of their community, Chontalá, near Chichicastenango. In order to generate income for the widows of the Civil War, Diego Chicoj, a Methodist pastor and tailor, decided to create a market for the women’s weavings. First, he worked with the women to create an array of products using their talent and then he taught their sons how to sew the final products. After he found scholarships, he provided the boys with a place to stay in Chichi and a place where they could finish high school in the evenings. Over the years the women received improvements to their homes and were able to send their children to school with their increased income. Today, Ruth and Naomi contribute to various artisan groups and have nine young men who sew all of their products.

Sharing the Dream has worked with Ruth and Naomi for many years and has contributed to many projects including: a showroom for their products, a children’s nutritional center, a chicken and stove project, and school scholarships.