Pathways to autonomy: tzotzil women's empowerment

We have continued the training program with the women artisans in order to strengthen the organizational and productive aspects of their social enterprises.

Organizational and Productive Strengthening Program of Women Artisans' Social Enterprises

During this stage, technical training was provided to two women's artisan social enterprises, whose members participated in a sewing workshop. During the training, the participants acquired basic knowledge about the use of sewing machines, carried out various practical exercises to master their operation, and concluded by making dresses. The purpose of this training is not only to diversify their production offer, but also to optimize processing times, since the processes were sewing by hand.

One of the artisans that participate in the sewing workshop, give her testimony and expressed her experience as follows:

“I am very happy to participate in the sewing workshop. At first it seemed very difficult and I was afraid to use the machine, but now I am learning and I feel more confident to use it. I am happy because now we can use the machine to finish our products.”

Participatory Craft Innovation Processes

As part of the accompaniment model implemented, the goal is for the artisans not only to acquire new knowledge, but also to take ownership of it and apply it in a practical way to strengthen their handicraft activity. An example of this is the notable increase in their capacity for innovation.

The participants have learned to: calculate production costs, improve the quality of their products, identify fashion trends and understand the importance of producing according to market needs. Based on these lessons, the artisans have initiated innovation processes geared to their own markets, incorporating color combinations in line with current trends, standardized measurements and higher-quality materials.

One artisan commented in this regard:

“I feel very happy because I learned how to design my products. Before, I didn't know how to combine colors, and I have learned through the workshops. Now we can design new products and offer them to customers.”

All The products that the artisans have developed are available for marketing at www.matat.org