November 2006 Newsletter
Co-partners of Campesinas
901 Second Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-548-6713
E-mail: heinzen@verizon.net www.copartners.org
Co-partners of Campesinas
901 Second Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-548-6713
E-mail: heinzen@verizon.net www.copartners.org
Co-partners of Campesinas is a US based, 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization that supports New Hope and other associations working for women’s
education and empowerment in developing countries in Latin America. New Hope (La Nueva Esperanza in Spanish) is an organization of sixty rural girls
and women from four impoverished communities near Ilobasco, El Salvador, who meet weekly to learn income-producing skills and advance the education
of members and their children. The Asociación para el Desarrollo Indígena de El K’iche (ADIK) is a women’s organization located outside of
Chichicastenango, Guatemala with goals similar to New Hope’s.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Direction in Guatemala Project
During last year’s Guatemala trip, ADIK members reported continuing success and satisfaction with the Co-partners-
sponsored micro credit program. They also indicated that, although two members use their credit for animal husbandry
projects, the majority are producing traditional weavings or crafts for sale in the Thursday and Sunday Chichicastenango
markets that are one of Guatemala’s primary tourist attractions. Tourists come to Chichi for two purposes: to witness
ceremonies that are a blend of traditional Maya and Christian practices and TO SHOP, making it an ideal location for craft
sales. The volunteers were concerned, however, with the women’s very low profit margins on their products and limited
awareness of this problem. The goal of this year’s visit was therefore to help members improve product quality and develop
new designs to give them an edge in a competitive market.
In traditional Guatemala where indigenous women wear hand-woven huipiles (blouses) and cortes (skirts), sewing tends to
be a male occupation. In Guatemala, as in El Salvador, rather than using printed patterns, cutting is done using a complex
system of measurements. The Co-partners’ team decided to locate printed patterns that could serve as potential new
designs, to produce models of these designs, and to use the 2006 visit for a sewing and design workshop.
The team also decided to take advantage of the opportunity in Chichi to buy beautiful, used weavings that can be purchased
for pittances in the
old huipiles market. The 2005 team hoped to come up with designs that would incorporate old weavings and be of high
enough quality to be serious clothing. To prepare for the trip, Co-partners collected patterns and recruited volunteers to
make models of several designs, two children’s dresses of cotton and two jackets of old weavings.
Volunteers Ann Houck and Marie Keefe work on a jacket made using an old huipile.
ADIK members responded positively to the idea of working on improved quality and product design. It became clear,
however, that only half of the members had the necessary skills and that the others would need sewing classes. The
workshop was divided into two groups and classes were set up for the less advanced members. This initiative will be
continued in 2007.
Due to the success of last year’s craft sales, the Washington Co-partners’ board plans to conduct two sales in the
Washington area this fall. One was held at the Reston Multi-cultural Fair in September. A second will be held just before
Christmas in Arlington. A new addition to the crafts sale this year will be sorpresas, the traditional ceramic miniatures made
in Ilobasco, the location of our Salvadoran project. See picture below.
Ilobasco sorpresa
Recruiting for the 2007 Volunteer Trips
Volunteers with sewing and design skills are needed for next year’s volunteer trip to Guatemala. Volunteers who would
enjoy working with children or teaching computer skills are also sought for the El Salvador volunteer trip. Exact dates for the
trips, usually programmed for June or July will be set in early 2007.
Peace Doves and Angels
If you would like to give charitable contributions rather than “stuff” as holiday gifts, Co-partners can help. For a contribution
of $50 or more, described as a “peace gift”, Co-partners will send a notice of your gift accompanied by a colorful, wooden
tree ornament from El Salvador. Both angels and doves (shown), measuring 2-2½ inches, are available. Just send us the
name and address of the recipient, who will be included in future newsletter mailings and will be informed of the use of the
gift. For delivery by Christmas, please order early!
Co-partners of Campesinas, Board of Directors
Archer Heinzen, Chairperson
Vacant, Secretary
Jim Heinzen, Treasurer
Donna Breslin
Marie Keefe
Joanne Murphy
Guatemala Volunteers
Catalina Ventura
Tomasa Guarcas Sis
La Nueva Esperanza, Board of Directors
Rosa Flores, President
Evelia Flores, Vice-President
María Delmy Bran, Secretary.
Maria Eduvina Peña, Treasurer
ADIK, Board of Directors
Ana Suar, President
Josefa Larios, Secretary,
Candelaria Ignatio, Treasurer
Sebastiana Toh, Vocal
education and empowerment in developing countries in Latin America. New Hope (La Nueva Esperanza in Spanish) is an organization of sixty rural girls
and women from four impoverished communities near Ilobasco, El Salvador, who meet weekly to learn income-producing skills and advance the education
of members and their children. The Asociación para el Desarrollo Indígena de El K’iche (ADIK) is a women’s organization located outside of
Chichicastenango, Guatemala with goals similar to New Hope’s.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Direction in Guatemala Project
During last year’s Guatemala trip, ADIK members reported continuing success and satisfaction with the Co-partners-
sponsored micro credit program. They also indicated that, although two members use their credit for animal husbandry
projects, the majority are producing traditional weavings or crafts for sale in the Thursday and Sunday Chichicastenango
markets that are one of Guatemala’s primary tourist attractions. Tourists come to Chichi for two purposes: to witness
ceremonies that are a blend of traditional Maya and Christian practices and TO SHOP, making it an ideal location for craft
sales. The volunteers were concerned, however, with the women’s very low profit margins on their products and limited
awareness of this problem. The goal of this year’s visit was therefore to help members improve product quality and develop
new designs to give them an edge in a competitive market.
In traditional Guatemala where indigenous women wear hand-woven huipiles (blouses) and cortes (skirts), sewing tends to
be a male occupation. In Guatemala, as in El Salvador, rather than using printed patterns, cutting is done using a complex
system of measurements. The Co-partners’ team decided to locate printed patterns that could serve as potential new
designs, to produce models of these designs, and to use the 2006 visit for a sewing and design workshop.
The team also decided to take advantage of the opportunity in Chichi to buy beautiful, used weavings that can be purchased
for pittances in the
old huipiles market. The 2005 team hoped to come up with designs that would incorporate old weavings and be of high
enough quality to be serious clothing. To prepare for the trip, Co-partners collected patterns and recruited volunteers to
make models of several designs, two children’s dresses of cotton and two jackets of old weavings.
Volunteers Ann Houck and Marie Keefe work on a jacket made using an old huipile.
ADIK members responded positively to the idea of working on improved quality and product design. It became clear,
however, that only half of the members had the necessary skills and that the others would need sewing classes. The
workshop was divided into two groups and classes were set up for the less advanced members. This initiative will be
continued in 2007.
- Tomasa Guarcas displays a child’s outfit, made of Guatemalan
- cotton that she produced in the Co-partners workshop
Due to the success of last year’s craft sales, the Washington Co-partners’ board plans to conduct two sales in the
Washington area this fall. One was held at the Reston Multi-cultural Fair in September. A second will be held just before
Christmas in Arlington. A new addition to the crafts sale this year will be sorpresas, the traditional ceramic miniatures made
in Ilobasco, the location of our Salvadoran project. See picture below.
Ilobasco sorpresa
Recruiting for the 2007 Volunteer Trips
Volunteers with sewing and design skills are needed for next year’s volunteer trip to Guatemala. Volunteers who would
enjoy working with children or teaching computer skills are also sought for the El Salvador volunteer trip. Exact dates for the
trips, usually programmed for June or July will be set in early 2007.
Peace Doves and Angels
If you would like to give charitable contributions rather than “stuff” as holiday gifts, Co-partners can help. For a contribution
of $50 or more, described as a “peace gift”, Co-partners will send a notice of your gift accompanied by a colorful, wooden
tree ornament from El Salvador. Both angels and doves (shown), measuring 2-2½ inches, are available. Just send us the
name and address of the recipient, who will be included in future newsletter mailings and will be informed of the use of the
gift. For delivery by Christmas, please order early!
Co-partners of Campesinas, Board of Directors
Archer Heinzen, Chairperson
Vacant, Secretary
Jim Heinzen, Treasurer
Donna Breslin
Marie Keefe
Joanne Murphy
Guatemala Volunteers
Catalina Ventura
Tomasa Guarcas Sis
La Nueva Esperanza, Board of Directors
Rosa Flores, President
Evelia Flores, Vice-President
María Delmy Bran, Secretary.
Maria Eduvina Peña, Treasurer
ADIK, Board of Directors
Ana Suar, President
Josefa Larios, Secretary,
Candelaria Ignatio, Treasurer
Sebastiana Toh, Vocal
