Manos Artísticas

Vision

Problem
 
According to the figures from the 2018 census, Guatemala has a population of 14.9 million inhabitants, 6.5 million (43.75%) of which self-identify as Indigenous, from the Maya, Garífuna and Xinca Indigenous Peoples, or Creole (Afrodescendants). The Maya can be further divided into 24 groups: the Achi’, Akateco, Awakateco, Chalchiteco, Ch’orti’, Chuj, Itza’, Ixil, Jacalteco, Kaqchikel, K’iche’, Mam, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchi’, Q’anjob’al, Q’eqchi’, Sakapulteco, Sipakapense, Tektiteko, Tz’utujil and Uspanteko.
 
 
Root Causes
 
The socio-economic situation of Indigenous people in Guatemala continues to show deep inequalities due to structural problems such as social exclusion, racism and dispossession of their livelihoods, all of which place them in a situation of poverty or extreme poverty. Poverty affects 75% of Indigenous and 36% of non-indigenous people, while chronic malnutrition affects 58% of Indigenous and 38% of non-indigenous people. Furthermore, the Constitution of the Republic does not recognize the existence of Indigenous Peoples or the multicultural composition of society.
 
Empowerment
The soon-to-be nonprofit Ixxim Uleew helps people rise from poverty in three ways. First, the free textile classes we provide allow artisans to gain new skills, make business connections, and acquire free materials to start (or expand) their businesses. Second, we directly support the artisans who are part of our shop to earn a living wage. Third, we provide emergency services such as food baskets, clothing, home repairs, and more to those in the community near Chichicastenango, Guatemala (chulumal primero is the name of the specific region where we are located. But we will expand.) We will be a positive, vibrant, indigenous-owned and operated, trauma-informed, diversity-positive organization in Guatemala.
 
 
Manuel Eduardo Tecun Morales is the son of Manuel Tecun Iwit and Josefa Morales Sui. He grew up in a Maya Quiche family, meaning he identifies with the Quiche indigenous Mayan group, which has its own language, foods, traditions, culture, and historical identity. Manuel was the first in his family to go to college and graduated with two degrees from La Universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala. Manuel has been inspired from his own experience with poverty and his family's long history of working with textiles. He aims to combine his love for Guatemalan textiles and culture with his desire to help people escape poverty.
 
Gabriela Alma Burkey has always been interested in Hispanic culture because of her father Christopher who is Chilean. She traveled to Panajachel, Guatemala in 2016 to complete an internship as part of her Social Work Degree from Warren Wilson College. Gabriela met Manuel; they were married in 2018 and had two children, Matias and Emma. Gabriela is excited to use her social work background and her passion for Hispanic culture, children, and art to help people exit poverty.
 
Thank you for reading this far!
 
We are collecting donations for:
 
-legal fees to start our nonprofit
 
-funds to launch our artisan program “Manos Artísticas”.
 
 

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Published 140 Days ago by Christopher B |

Thanks to three sweet friends and our Christmas savings, we have enough to donate 100 canastas with food and small gifts in Chichicastenango which we are excited to be giving, but we would be happy to have more baskets. Feel free to venmo or paypal me $5 if you would like to donate a basket!

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