By Alejandra Rosado | CEO
Five years ago, we were dreaming about how we, as women, could be economically empowered. It was challenging to find a way, that really inspire us, a form of empowerment that was congruent with the love we feel for the place we inhabit. The answer was always: traditional trades, local knowledge, and support networks.
Today, I have the happiness to announce the official opening of “Manos de Sol”, a collective brand for artisanal local collectives. We have worked with so many talented people! We can’t believe this is happening!
The first traditional trade workshop in UMPO’s Community Center was taught by Don German, the last traditional shoemaker of our village, it was amazing, and so inspiring that from this first group, some students made their own brand of traditional shoes: “Guiduyu”. The same happened after other workshops of other traditional trades, for traditional embroidery, and food transformation, beneath others. But also on our way, we met gifted artisans of other trades who weren’t taught in our trades school. We noticed that even though, all of them (students and non-students) were producing different things and services, they had very similar needs and a common goal: They wanted their communities to learn the trade of which they are guardians, to inspire others, to revitalize their knowledge.
So, we started the project “Economy reactivation for Zapotec families”, a series of workshops and training to boost local business. “We have had the support of Una mano para Oaxaca with many workshops like photography, social media, finances, and cooperative principles,” said Isabel from Guiduyu. There were around 31 cooperatives that were very committed to the program, you could find everything, what to eat, what to drink, things to wear, where to sleep, how to heal, we got everything. From those collectives, 8 of them decided to work together to create “Manos de Sol” and last week the physical shop was opened in Juchitan’s centrum. A lot of effort, many hands, lots of love, surreal stories, some tragedies, everything was necessary to get to this place. There is still a long path, but feeling accompanied makes everything wonderful.
Thank you for being part!
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