MEXICAN MICRO-COMMERCIAL PROJECT
Last updated July 2011

Northern Mexico is home to some of the poorest communities in the world. Life in these isolated mountain villages has always been challenging but has become much more difficult due to the impact of the recent global recession on local economies.

The villagers’ source of income was derived from the wild crop ‘Canderia’, which is burnt to produce a wax which is used in the manufacture of glue. The value of this product has dropped considerably, forcing the villagers to turn to burning local bushes to produce charcoal for sale. Neither of these means produces sufficient income for the villagers.

Over the last few months our local project director, Donald, has helped seven of the women of one village to harness their traditional textile making skills. These include embroidery, knitting and weaving. With funds from Global Compassion, Donald initially supplied them with some raw materials and a spinning machine to produce doilies and table mats for sale in the markets and shops of the more distant towns. Those women who are skilled are now training the younger women and we are happy to report that with trade links now established between villagers and businesses early sales of their wares show much promise for a sustainable future.