Mercado Global

Empowering Artisans

Location: Guatemala

Sponsor: Alison Long-Poetsch

Mercado Global: Grantee in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021

The indigenous women artisans of rural Guatemala served by Mercado Global have a rich history and culture of weaving but lack access to resources and a viable market for their wares. This has made it nearly impossible to earn a living from their traditional talents. Rather, these women have endured extreme poverty and a lack of economic and educational opportunities. Forty-eight percent of the rural indigenous population earns an average of $1.25 or less per day. As a result, Guatemala has the fourth-highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world.

By accessing technical training and business development support from Mercado Global, these women artisans can improve their skills and create a steady stream of quality products that enable them to earn a better income. Through market connections established by Mercado Global, their merchandise has been introduced to such major international retailers as Anthropologie, Nordstrom, and Target, generating new revenue streams. In addition, the skills and support these women receive empower them to become entrepreneurs and develop other revenue-earning activities as well. This allows them to increase their income within the domestic market and build a sustainable revenue stream.

Artisans who partner with Mercado Global can earn up to three times the average rural Guatemalan wage. Data shows that women are then able to make important investments in improved nutrition, education, sanitation for their families and even build personal savings. Surveys also show that these artisans make education a top priority; 99% of their children enroll in school. This further supports stronger economic prospects.

Mercado Global’s Founder and Executive Director, Ruth Alvarez-DeGolia, was nominated by Project Redwood and was awarded the SEP Alumni Scholarship Foundation’s 2021 scholarship to attend the Stanford Executive Program (SEP) at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Ruth’s selection highlighted her work as a pioneer in the field of ethical fashion, impact in the world, and alignment with the Foundation’s mission (to amplify the work of an inspiring global social leader who is on the verge of strategic growth). We are proud of Ruth and excited about this collaboration with the SEP Alumni Scholarship Foundation to provide nominations for future scholars.

For more information, see: http://www.mercadoglobal.org

GRANT SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

2017: $25,000 to find and train 150 women artisans in rural Guatemala to make high-quality custom goods for U.S. retailers and be paid fairly for their work. These efforts are part of a multi-year scaling campaign to work with 1,000 additional artisans.

2018: $25,000 to hire a Technical Training Manager ($20,000) to oversee the training efforts, with an additional $5,000 for community-based education programs to further support the artisans.

2019: $25,000 to partially fund the salary of the Technical Training Manager and costs of other training and curriculum development, aimed at directly impacting 550 artisans.

2021: A $30,000 grant will help fund a Collaboration Manager and the packaging and sharing of their model in new communities, helping additional Indigenous women become financially independent. The project will support 250 new artisans and benefit their family members.

IMPACT

Increase household income by as much as 300%, breaking the cycle of poverty, by connecting women artisans to broader markets for their work.