<% %> El Quetzal Project for Sustainable Community Development
Cresencia (right), El Quetzal's agent, collaborates with the Presidenta of the women's group in S.A. Palopó.
Resplendent Quetzal

  The resplendent quetzal bird, found in southern Mexico and Central America, is a traditional symbol of liberty in the land of the Maya, as it does not live in captivity.
  Legend claims that the bird, which used to sing brilliantly, has been silent since the Spanish conquest. As the national bird of Guatemala, it is also on the flag and national seal. The country's currency is named after it.
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Asociación de Mujeres Iik’-Luna

This association of 60 Tzutzuhil Mayan women in the aldeas or nearby villages of Santiago Atitlán, Sololá Department, is the largest organized group of artisan women in Atitlán. It was formed on July 6, 1998 with 40 initial members. The leadership consists of three sisters who live in the city of Atitlán , whose home provides rooms used as an office and workshop for both instruction in using typewriters and the production of sodium chloride as a disinfectant. The 60 Mayan women and their families who create the beautiful beadwork products offered by this group live in very basic conditions in outlying areas. Hardly any of these marginalized women have attended school in the past, and the majority can not read or write.

Although beaded jewelry and keychains make up over 95 percent of the products offered by Iik’-Luna, the group is trying to expand its product line to include woven belts, scarves, shawls and priest’s stoles. The beaded products are created in the homes of the 60 members, homes which generally have stick walls and dirt floors. The women are proud to help provide for the basic needs of their families, including food, school supplies and medicines.

In addition to providing a non-exploitative wage, Asociación IIk’-Luna runs 2 educational projects to benefit its members. It received support from the Guatemalan NGO “Fundación Guillermo Toriello” to buy 16 typewriters, and one of the 3 sisters who form the Directiva or Coordinating Board teaches typing classes to generate income. Another donation from the Guatemalan governmental agency in charge of health and social assistance provided the women with a solar panel and the additional equipment to produce sodium chloride to disinfect dishes, vegetables, water, etc. This micro-business is part of an integrated health program offered by the association to its members and their neighbors.

Iik’-Luna has found a couple international clients in 2005 in addition to El Quetzal. Their main priority for 2006 is to seek additional markets to provide steady work for the group’s members and their families. The group funds the purchase of the beads and additional materials used by the women in their handicraft, and Mercedes, one of the 3 sisters, is in charge of production and guarantees quality control by reviewing each product upon reception.