BAN UL TU IXIM TXABÁ...
(Gelöschtes Mitglied) schrieb am 17.01.2014
... means "Welcome to Guatemala" in Ixil - one of the 22 different Mayan languages
Dear friend,
all of us were speechless when we received the devastating news in August last year, that our partner organisation, the women cooperative Tejidos Cotzal from San Juan Cotzal in Guatemala was robbed. Most of the 45 women who are working in the cooperative have lost their men during the civil war. They maintain their livelihood through handmade weaving and are thus able to feed their families.
Because of the theft of basically all their working materials, the women had been faced with nothing. However, because of the overwhelming willingness to donate, the women were given new hope. Within very short time, we transferred a donation of more than US$ 2000 and the weavers were able to start with their Christmas production.
In mid- December, I travelled to Guatemala, meeting Pedro in Antigua at the „Feria Comercio Justo y Solidario“, which takes place every year. At the fair, Doña Catarina and Pedro are selling the products of the cooperative every year successfully. With the support of the enormous willingness to donate, the women could finish the products in time for selling them at the fair.
After two thriving days at the fair in Antigua, we ventured away on a seven-hour bus ride to San Juan Cotzal. Just after arrival, I visited the cooperative’s office, where Pedro showed me how the thieves got into the place. Now, a security guard takes care of the office during nighttime. In the village, we met Juan, who works almost magically, putting together the single pieces the women bring to the office twice a week into bags, wallets or backpacks.
The following day we visited some of the women in their homes and Pedro introduced me to various members of the cooperative. We talked mostly about the theft and what happened afterwards. Doña Catarina, (38 years old, 2 children), described the situation as such: “After the theft, we had no hope. Therefore, we thank the people who donated for giving us back the courage and strength in order to fight for the future of our children.” In the future, the women, together with Pedro and Juan, are planning on building a community centre in which they can exchange news, weave and also cook together.
In the name of all members of the cooperative Tejidos Cotzal and particularly the weaving women and their families, we want to thank everyone who donated with all our heart. Your readiness to donate overwhelmed all of us. In the village, I had the opportunity to see for myself how enthusiastically, creatively and full of joy the women work. Now, they will be able to continue with shaping their families lives independently.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa8nvLM5Ycs)
Tantioxh see – Muchas gracias - Thank you very much - Vielen vielen Dank!!!
Verena Gabel for Proyecto Mosaico e.V.
P.S.: Please check out our photo stream on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.466826173421744.1073741855.164681416969556&type=1
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Dear friend,
all of us were speechless when we received the devastating news in August last year, that our partner organisation, the women cooperative Tejidos Cotzal from San Juan Cotzal in Guatemala was robbed. Most of the 45 women who are working in the cooperative have lost their men during the civil war. They maintain their livelihood through handmade weaving and are thus able to feed their families.
Because of the theft of basically all their working materials, the women had been faced with nothing. However, because of the overwhelming willingness to donate, the women were given new hope. Within very short time, we transferred a donation of more than US$ 2000 and the weavers were able to start with their Christmas production.
In mid- December, I travelled to Guatemala, meeting Pedro in Antigua at the „Feria Comercio Justo y Solidario“, which takes place every year. At the fair, Doña Catarina and Pedro are selling the products of the cooperative every year successfully. With the support of the enormous willingness to donate, the women could finish the products in time for selling them at the fair.
After two thriving days at the fair in Antigua, we ventured away on a seven-hour bus ride to San Juan Cotzal. Just after arrival, I visited the cooperative’s office, where Pedro showed me how the thieves got into the place. Now, a security guard takes care of the office during nighttime. In the village, we met Juan, who works almost magically, putting together the single pieces the women bring to the office twice a week into bags, wallets or backpacks.
The following day we visited some of the women in their homes and Pedro introduced me to various members of the cooperative. We talked mostly about the theft and what happened afterwards. Doña Catarina, (38 years old, 2 children), described the situation as such: “After the theft, we had no hope. Therefore, we thank the people who donated for giving us back the courage and strength in order to fight for the future of our children.” In the future, the women, together with Pedro and Juan, are planning on building a community centre in which they can exchange news, weave and also cook together.
In the name of all members of the cooperative Tejidos Cotzal and particularly the weaving women and their families, we want to thank everyone who donated with all our heart. Your readiness to donate overwhelmed all of us. In the village, I had the opportunity to see for myself how enthusiastically, creatively and full of joy the women work. Now, they will be able to continue with shaping their families lives independently.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa8nvLM5Ycs)
Tantioxh see – Muchas gracias - Thank you very much - Vielen vielen Dank!!!
Verena Gabel for Proyecto Mosaico e.V.
P.S.: Please check out our photo stream on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.466826173421744.1073741855.164681416969556&type=1
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