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Frequently Asked Questions
 How and when did MayaWorks begin?
MayaWorks began in 1990 with one suitcase of placemats woven by widows whose husbands had been killed by the violence which plagued the Guatemalan Highlands during the 1980's. A volunteer carried the suitcase back to the U.S. and quickly sold its contents.
MayaWorks grew out of Behrhorst Partners for Development, founded by the late Dr. Carroll Behrhorst who dedicated his life to the rural poor of Guatemala. He persistently advocated for women's income-generating projects as essential to health and community development.
Where are MayaWorks artisans located and what do they create?
MayaWorks artisans are located in Agua Caliente, Buen Esperanza, Comalapa, Patzun, San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitlan, and Xetonox. Nine groups create products for MayaWorks. Their handcrafted items include placemats, table runners, bags of all kinds, beadwork jewelry, cornhusk dolls, hackysacks, yarmulkes and pastoral stoles. The artisans participate in MayaWorks funded workshops to improve the quality of their crafts and to learn better business practices.
What does it mean to be a Fair Trade Organization?
MayaWorks is a member of The Fair Trade Federation, Aid to Artisans, and The Craft Center. MayaWorks joins these organizations in a commitment to working with disadvantaged artisans by developing markets for their products in First World countries. Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs) assist artisans and farmers in developing new markets, reducing their need to rely on "middle men" and producing a much greater return directly to them. MayaWorks not only pays fair prices for products but also returns an additional percentage to artisans for girls' scholarships; microcredit loans; business training and support. FTOs also adhere to a strict set of criteria regarding wages, working conditions and environmentally sound business practices.
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