Measurement: Crafts

Salvadoran Women Sell Their Crafts to People Who Appreciate Hand-Crafted Beauty and Support Socially Responsible Consumption

In 1990, Sisters Anne Marie Gardiner, SSND and Marie Chiodo, DW went to El Salvador in the midst of the war. They met with women in remote hillside villages and asked what they could do to help. The repeated response was a request to help the women market their crafts. In subsequent visits, Anne Marie and Marie were introduced to other groups who were making crafts unique to the country of El Salvador. Artisans were producing richly painted boxes and plaques, hand sewn blouses and table coverings, leather wallets, crocheted purses, and children's toys and games. The value of work and the pride in production was evident in the time spent and care given in creating each item.

Women's groups would meet together in local community buildings or in one another's homes to design and fabricate the crafts. Sometimes they formed cooperatives and set about dividing up the work. All this time, the women were able to stay close to home caring for their children, a priority in their lives. The small amount of money earned was frequently put back into the co-op. From these meetings with Anne Marie and Marie, the Salvadoran Crafts project was born.

What began years ago as a simple marketing of Salvadoran crafts in the U.S. has expanded into a mission designed to generate sustainable employment for women in their local communities, now operating as Salvadoran Enterprises for Women. The craft project continues to bring awareness to the public of the work of the women and of Salvadoran Enterprises for Women. Throughout the year, but most especially during the fall months, Board members and volunteers attend craft fairs and conferences in the Washington DC and Baltimore areas to tell the story of the artisans of El Salvador and make their products available for sale.