​UPAVIM was established in 1988 as a Healthy Baby Program in the shanty area of “La Esperanza,” Zone 12 of Guatemala City by Barbara Lorraine, a nurse from the United States. After working with the local women, Barbara realized that the women not only suffered from extreme poverty, lack of formal education, and lack of water supply, they also had alcoholic husbands or sons involved in drug trafficking. With little to no help from their husbands, the women were left to support their large families. As a result, an income generating project was founded which involved training the women to make crafts using traditional Guatemalan textiles to sell on the fair trade market. UPAVIM is now one of the biggest and most successful artisan groups in the country. It continues to create new projects for the women and their families including a primary school, nursery, clinic, bakery, soy milk production and cheese project. Today, the women not only have a source of income, they also receive training and education.    

Sharing the Dream in Guatemala partnered with UPAVIM for many projects, including its biggest, raising $15,000 in one year to buy the land and building next to the original building.

Frog Purse

$12.00 $11.00

This cute little purse features a smiling green frog with striped pants and a bright red bow. His inner pouch is fully lined and opens with a nylon zipper. Purse is all cotton and has a red shoulder strap. Purse measures 15" strap length, 5" in width, and 5.5" in height. WARNING: Choking Hazard. Not suitable for children under three years.

This fair trade children's purse was made by UPAVIM, an organization of women artisans from one of the most dangerous parts of Guatemala City. Originally founded in 1988 as a healthy baby program, this organization has grown to include a training program to make crafts, a primary school, nursery, clinic, bakery, and soy milk and cheese production project. Now, they are one of the largest and most successful artisan groups in the country, and they make darling children’s items and home wares. The sales of their products help the artisans to support themselves and their families.  

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