Cultivating Preservation, Entrepreneurship & Digitalization
through Artisan Partnerships in Central & South America
Preservation
It is essential to empower artisan communities by creating sustainable job opportunities for them to continue practicing their ancestral craft. Indigenous artisan craftsmanship, like weaving and hat-making, is vanishing and at risk of extinction because of the lack of income opportunities and modernization. Mayu Mission is helping to bridge the gap between remote artisan villages and global communities by giving them the resources, skills training and job opportunities required to keep their generational artistry alive and flourishing.
Digitalization
Through our partnerships, we bring digital technology to rural communities in Central and South America. Historically, many indigenous communities have had their knowledge exploited by outsiders without their consent. This digital transformation helps drive innovation and connects artisan communities to modern day global marketplaces. Our programs secure intellectual property rights for artisans, not only to protect and preserve their art forms, but also to create income opportunities through digital royalties and modern day marketplaces.
Entrepreneurship
Our programs empower artisans, particularly women, to be entrepreneurs and successfully run their own businesses. In Peru, over 60% of jobs are informal, creating instability and opportunity for exploitation. Through our workshops, we are providing valuable life skills, self- confidence, and resources to create and manage independent businesses. In many rural communities where domestic violence and anti-feminism exists, it is vital to provide women with resources and support, so that they can make their own independent choices for themselves.
Ollantaytambo Women Build Community Center
We’ve partnered with non-profit, Awamaki to expand market access in the Andes. Awamaki creates lasting impact in the remote Andean mountains of Peru by collaborating with women’s cooperatives to build successful businesses in cultural tourism and handwoven fair trade textiles.
Women Build is our transformative capital campaign that will establish a new Artisan Center in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The center’s accessible location will allow more Indigenous women to participate in Awamaki's economic development programs, even if they live very far from the tourism market. Artisan crafts in this area are what National Geographic refers to a “vanishing art”; an ancient weaving or embroidering tradition that has been passed down through the centuries by the women in their culture. We’re working toward a textile and hat preservation library to be added into the center, where Artisans can educate visitors about their culture and generational craft.
$550,000 is needed to build and run the community center by 2026.
Help Support our Programs.
We hope you will consider joining us in supporting our programs at Mayu Mission. Together, we can co-create a vision of sustainable, positive impact for the individuals benefiting from our initiatives. Whether through single or multi-year pledges, corporate sponsorships, or any other means of philanthropy, your support is invaluable and warmly welcomed.
