Good News - September 2019

OUT AND ABOUT 38 SEPTEMBER 2019 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Food For The Poor Donors Empower Women in Guatemala The women of Sololá, Guatemala, are weaving a brighter future for themselves and their families, thanks to a generous Food For The Poor donor. In Sololá, a small commu- nity of 5,000 about 80miles west of Guatemala City, slightly less than half the population lives in extreme poverty, earning an av- erage of $1.25 or less per day. The indigenous women havea richhistory of weaving, but the main barrier between a life of poverty and financial independ- ence is access to a viablemarket. Now, through a partnership between Food For The Poor, Caritas and Mercado Global, these artisans are learning new sewing and looming tech- niques, using Mercado Global’s unique designs, to make hand- bags and other items on a scale that can compete in the interna- tional marketplace. In May, the first group grad- uated from a technical training program. A total of 289 women have been trained so far; about 60 have received their own floor looms and sewing machines. “These women have this inner fire and desire to provide for themselves and feed their families. All they need is a mar- ket,” said Ruth DeGolia, Execu- tive Director of Mercado Global. DeGolia visited Food For The Poor’s Coconut Creek headquarters in August and showed off samples of the handbags, cosmetic bags, totes and home décor items made by the women. The women have the po- tential to earn up to $8 a day, working part-time. This allows them to make up to three times the daily rural Guatemalan in- come and lift themselves out of poverty. For information, v isit FoodForThePoor.org. Sy Wat th p y ho Assisted Liv m n e at ing & Memory Care erway Fort Lauderdale s Marcela learns how to use a weaving machine in Sololá, Guatemala. Photo/Food For The Poor