Mayan Hands Foundation Ltd

MAYAN HANDS IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE INCOME-GENERATING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MAYAN WOMEN ARTISANS AND GIRLS IN GUATEMALA, IN EFFORTS TO COMBAT EXTREME POVERTY AND PRESERVE CULTURAL TRADITIONS. SEE FURTHER DETAIL ON SCHEDULE O.

MAYAN HANDS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM PROVIDES CONSISTENT FAIR WAGES TO MORE THAN 200 MAYAN WOMEN ARTISANS BY CONNECTING THEM TO CONSUMERS IN AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET. WOMEN ARTISANS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, MOST OF THEM WITH LOW LITERACY RATES, PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL PORGRAMS THAT INCLUDE BUSINESS SKILL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING CALCULATING FAIR TRADE WAGES, PREPARING NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, AND FILING TAXES. ONGOING DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SKILL TRAINING SUPPORTS WOMEN ARTISANS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS. IN ADDITION, ARTISANS PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY MAYAN HANDS, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS, STRENGTHENING COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE THROUGH DEMOCRATIC DECISION MAKING, OCCUPATIONAL AND PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND SELF-ESTEEM.

MAYAN HANDS INVESTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO BOTH THE DAUGHTERS OF OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS AND THE ARTISANS THEMSELVES. EDUCATION OF GIRLS CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN A SINGLE GENERATION, BUT MAYAN GIRLS FACE ENORMOUS BARRIERS TO EDUCATION SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE GIRLS. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS AND FAMILY STIPENDS TO 65 STUDENTS WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL: 21 IN BASICO (JUNIOR HIGH), 16 DIVERSIFICADO (SENIOR HIGH), 25 IN UNIVERSITIES AND 3 IN VOCATIONAL SCHOOL. MAYAN HANDS DISTRIBUTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO 158 CHILDREN OF OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS AND THIER MOTHERS, ADDRESSING ISSUES OF GENDER EQUITY, WOMENS RIGHTS, AND SELF-ESTEEM.