When you purchase our handmade Guatemalan products, you are helping the artisans in many ways.

First, the women receive payment for their work in accordance with the objectives of the Fair Trade Federation.

Secondly, Maya Traditions returns a portion of the profits earned to our education and health projects. After interviews of the women were done in 1996 it was revealed that education and health were their most pressing needs. Over the years the women have assisted in the development of these projects that benefit their families.





In many Guatemalan villages where our groups live and work, public schooling does not go beyond the sixth grade. In order to further their education, children must leave their villages and go to high school in larger city centers. For many bright youngsters this means it is almost impossible to get the education required to succeed in the modern world. Recognizing their financial obstacles, we at Maya Traditions have instituted a scholarship program to help pay the cost of education for the children of the women in our groups. Children in primary and secondary school get yearly stipend for school supplies. Those who wish to continue on with high school are awarded with a monthly stipend to help cover the cost of room and board.




The Maya Doll Project has been one of our most exciting activities which involves four regions: Solola, Nahuala, Santiago Atitlan and Chichicastenango. This is an economic development project, designed to create a unique product for the groups to produce and sell. The dolls also promote self esteem and pride in their Maya culture as they recreate their own image. In 1996 the dolls made their debut in the Hearthsong catalog and are now sold all over the world.

Each doll begins with footloom woven fabric in rich brown tones. In their home villages the women use backstrap looms to weave the doll's clothing which mirrors their own traditional dress called, "traje". Then, the women come together in our workshop where they finish the dolls by filling, sewing, and dressing them.

The dolls are enjoyed by children and adults alike. Families with Guatemalan children especially like the dolls because they help create a sense of pride and connection with their roots. In undertaking projects like this we are able to help our groups create meaningful products that encourage cultural pride and provide steady work.




We are unable to meet all of the needs of the women's communities we work with for assistance in health and education. Donations are gratefully accepted to help sustain our projects and provide more scholarships to the children of the weavers.


Maya Traditions
3922 Mission St
San Francisco, Ca. 94112
Tel: (415) 587-2172
Email: mail@mayatraditions.com
Website: www.mayatraditions.com

Global Exchange, a non profit organization (501 C3) serves as the fiscal sponsor for our projects in Guatemala.

For tax deductible donations write checks to: Global Exchange/ Maya Education Fund. Please send the donation to our San Francisco office address listed above, so that we can personally follow though with the staff at Global Exchange. This ensures the donation will be deposited in the correct account and that you receive written acknowledgment that the transfer has been made.

If you do not need your donation to be tax deductible, just send a check made out to Tradiciones Mayas (our business name in Spanish) and we will deposit it directly into the project account in Guatemala. This donation can also be sent to our San Francisco office as well.

If you have any questions email: jane@mayatradions.com or mail@mayatraditions.com

To reach our office in Guatemala call: 011-502-7762-2829
Rebecca, Martha,Jennifer or Jane can assist you in English.


Print this page