I was thrilled today that I'd be visiting communities where groups of women are participating in AFEDES’ Foot-Loom Weaving Program.

This is a program AFEDES started last year after identifying a market opportunity for their weavers. Back-strap weaving is the traditional weaving method practiced by local weavers. With back-strap weaving the women hang their textile from one end on a pole and tie the other end around their waist, and they weave kneeling down. This weaving takes a long time and is labor intensive but it allows weavers to be very detailed in their work, making the product even more valuable.

Foreign markets have noticed the value and beauty of Guatemalan textiles and are offering opportunities to purchase orders of these products. But the back-strap method takes too long to fulfill orders. Foot-loom weaving produces textile products in less time and in a more uniformed way. However it is has been the custom that men weave with foot-looms, and so few women have the opportunity to learn this technique. AFEDES realized there were not enough foot-loom weavers to fulfill high-volume orders that could ultimately yield a good income. So AFEDES initiated the program to train women how to use the foot-loom.

The first community we visited was the village of Santiago Zamora, near the town of San Antonio Aguas Calientes, known for its colorful, detailed textiles that fetch a high value. Around 125 families live in Santiago Zamora, where typically women are traditional back-strap weavers and men are field laborers.

Here I met six women who are participating in the Foot-Loom Weaving Program. For many of them this is the first time they've seen a foot loom. I asked them, "Why did you want to learn foot-loom weaving?"

One of the students, Lucila, said, "The goal I had was to learn more weaving and to have the opportunity to learn to do other type of weaving products."

Lucila is a back strap weaver, currently the President of the group of women in Santiago Zamora that is receiving a microcredit loan from AFEDES. The group is called Bella Flor, meaning beautiful flower. The foot-loom is being housed at Lucila's house because she has the extra space. The women take it in turns to visit Lucila in order to practice their homework on the foot-loom.

AFEDES finds it initially has many women interested in the learning the foot-loom. But once the program starts the women unfortunately drop out for many reasons. Often it is an issue of time. The program requires weekly attendance plus time to practice their homework. As mothers, who are also working to earn an income by weaving on the back-strap loom, their time is limited.

Women stop coming to the training because of transportation costs. Often the women in the program have to travel to a neighboring village to attend the training. This is the reason Lidia left the group. She already knew a little about foot-loom weaving, and when AFEDES announced the program, she immediately signed up. But with the high costs of transportation, she left the program to save the money for her family. She told her husband how sad she was to leave the program, so her husband encouraged her to return. She's happy now that she's back and has the support of her husband.

Our next visit was with the women of Santo Domingo Xenacoj, where I met 11 women participants of the Foot-Loom Weaving Program. A few of them had familiar faces; from the time I was a volunteer at AFEDES.

Gloria Estela is the President of the group of women in Santo Domingo Xenacoj that has also received microcredit loans from AFEDES. In addition, she's the trainer of the Foot-Loom Weaving Program. Thanks to her, many women are learning a new skill that will help them generate more income in the long-term.

When we started talking the women shared with me if they were married or single. Every time someone said she was married, someone would say, "But she wishes she was single!"
"Ha, ha, ha," the rest of the women would laugh.
Another one would say, "I'm living with a partner."
"But she's still looking!" someone else would say.
"Ha, ha, ha," responded the group of women.

When they finished, I asked if they wanted to know about us. ‘Us’ being me, Milvian - AFEDES Economic Development Program Coordinator, Gloria - AFEDES Community Trainer, and Marlon, a photographer accompanying us who was the only man present. "Yes," someone said, "but especially we want to learn about the photographer's status."

"Ha, ha, ha," - the laughter just didn't seem to end!

After our conversation, the women showed me what they had learned from Gloria Estela. We were having so much fun; we ended up leaving very late from the community. It was a long day, but very rewarding!
Photo credit: Marlon Garcia

Labels: AFEDES, Guatemala, weaving

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