Let's keep saying yes to every woman and community that reaches out wanting to be part of our Artisan Project!

Madres e Hijos creates communities and systems of support for women and children. Honoring and celebrating our shared humanity.

Our Artisan Project is a bright light in the horrific tragedies causing migration and immigration around the world. We work with women throughout Central America to foster connection and community while creating revenue streams that allow them to stay home, mitigating the need to migrate.

No one wants to leave their homes, families, communities, and all that they know and love. With your support and partnership, we are able to say yes to every woman and community that reaches out wanting to participate! We are 8 communities strong and truly growing weekly.

This past week we were able to yes to an incredible community of women and girls in Santa Elena, La Paz, Honduras. These girls will use the money they earn from their incredible embroidery to purchase school books, allowing them to continue their education, and make huge strides toward a stronger future.

We also were able to welcome a group of Indigenous Mayan women and children from San Marcos, Guatemala. This powerful community of women will share their generational gifts and artwork with the intention of creating a better tomorrow for their families.

This work continues to grow through the support of our members and donors. Be sure and check out our Membership Levels and share the joy of supporting these incredible women with your families and communities.

We all thank you for your participation in creating powerful change!

We will begin sharing stories of the participating women and communities starting Wednesday, November 24th. Check back daily for more sharing!

Casa de la Esperanza Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico

Casa de la Esperanza came to life around the need to support the many people traveling through the community of Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico in search of asylum in the U.S.

Like many border communities, migrants began looking for shelter in the small town of Sasabe while they waited for the next stage of their journey. There were no resources in this small community and migrants were often left on the streets with no access to food, water, shelter, or basic needs.

Dora Rodriguez and Gail Kocourek from Salvavision began going to this community to provide whatever support they could. This support turned into Casa de la Esperanza. Along with the local Sasabe community, Salvavision opened this Resource Center to support the needs of the individuals on these long, treacherous journeys.

The local women running Casa de la Esperanza began to share the need for resources for the local community, along with the migrants passing through. Resources that would open new doors of opportunity and hope. Shortly after this incredible community joined the Artisan Project and Casa de la Esperanza became a community gathering center as well as migrant resource center.

There are now 26 women participating in Sasabe, ages 15-80. Through their participation in the Artisan Project, these women are addressing two major issues; they are creating opportunities for families to stay in their home communities, and finding innovative ways for the local and migrant communities to come together.

We are proud to have them as artisans in our project.

Wendy from El Salvador

Wendy and her family fled El Salvador in 2016. Her mom and step-dad owned several clothing stores in their town and became targets for the local Barrio 18 gang.

They were unable to stay home any longer when the gang members demanded $5000 or they would be back to kill the family. Leaving everything behind they fled in the middle of the night and traveled to Tapachula, Mexico.

Her story in Mexico is one of struggle, discrimination and hardship. Until one day a gang member who had traveled to the area recognized Wendy's sister and together with their mother, they had to flee again. This time they made it to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico just as the border shut down and no asylum requests were being heard.

In Nogales, Wendy connected with Salvavision and was able to return home to El Salvador. From El Salvador, Wendy now creates beautiful mantas generating an income to take care of her family.

We are honored to have her as a part of the project.

Casa de la Misericordia Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Sister Lika has created an oasis in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico for those waiting to cross into the U.S.

Her sanctuary, filled with gardens, playgrounds, chickens, classrooms, dormitories, and more, provides a safe place for families to call home during their difficult journey.

Unlike most shelters, Sister Lika has no time limit for how long families can stay. Some of her residents have been there for upwards of two years while they wait for an opportunity to apply for asylum.

Through the Artisan Project, these women are able to create pieces of art that represent the home communities that they hold dear in their heart.

By sharing their culture and artistic gifts with the world, they are generating the income needed to sustain their family while they await the next part of their journey.

We are proud to have them as artisans in our project.

"For a Better Future" San Marcos, Guatemala

This incredible community of women and young girls was brought together by Mari. Her brother, Nelson, left home at 15 to make the long journey to the United States alone. He left to earn some money that he could send home to his mother and sister, wanting nothing more than to create a better future for his family.

Nelson was picked up by Border Patrol after crossing into the US and held in a child detention center until he reached 18, at which point he was deported to Mexico. In Mexico, Nelson's luck changed when he met Dora from Salvavision who helped him return home to Guatemala.

It was through Nelson that we met Mari. Mari expressed interest in participating in the project and we told her that one of the requirements of the project is that there are at least 3 people in each community. (The intention behind this requirement is to foster connection and community building among the women, creating touch points and additional resources.) Mari set out to find a few more participants and in no time had 8 other women and girls ready to join!

When we asked them what they wanted their group to be called, they came up with the name "For a Better Future", which put a smile on all of our faces.

This community is Indigenous to San Marcos, Guatemala. The embroidery these Mayan women are sharing has been passed down through many generations and shares their culture and values.

We are honored to have them as members of our Artisan Project.

Tomorrow we will share the story of Catracha Collective from Santa Elena, Honduras

Let's Keep Saying Yes!

By Madres e Hijos

Let's Keep Saying Yes!

Let's Get Ahead of the Immigration Cycle and Keep Families Together #letskeepsayingyes