Oxlajuj B’atz’ is one of only eighteen NGOs invited to talk about their work, challenges and plans for the future at the Guatemala NGO Network’s “Guatemala in Motion” event in Antigua, Saturday, Feb 18 from 10am to 2pm.
Join us as we showcase OB through our projects, products, testimonials and volunteer opportunities.
Further details can be found at: http://www.laantiguaguatemala.net/en/home
Pamela Marble, a volunteer medical practitioner who has successfully worked with OB on a number of occasions has developed a curriculum and worked to train our Community Facilitators in women’s anatomy. The Community Facilitators will visit all of our cooperatives in the coming months and a comprehensive health guide will be developed.
The first program was held today, 1 February with Mujeres Artesanas las Rosas group in Pantanatic! We are very excited to see how the program develops and look forward to feedback and suggestions from both the cooperative members and facilitators.
A rug-hooking workshop, lead by renowned rug-hooker Mary Anne Wise, was held January 16-24. Participants learned advanced rug-hooking techniques, explored typical Guatemalan designs and textiles, and learned how to be rug-hooking instructors themselves so that they are now equipped to train the women in their own communities advanced rug-hooking skills.
Oxlajuj B’atz’ would like to extend a warm thank you to Mary Anne Wise, Jody Slocum, and all our staff who worked to make this possible!
OB would like to welcome Cheryl Conway, our new Manager of Development and Public Relations. Cheryl comes to us from Ireland with years of experience in economics and development. We would also like to thank Andrea Branchaud for her dedicated time spent at OB and the many contributions she made while here.
Check out our Travel Journal with photos and accounts of our U.S. Rug-Hooking Exhibition! http://www.traveljournal.com/journal.php?id=354&rm=0
Watch a video of our rug-hooking presentation in Downsville, Wisconsin.
An evening with 3 Maya women from Guatemala : Thier lives and art from kevin pontuti on Vimeo.
We have just published our Fall 2011 Newsletter! Some highlights include:
On March 23rd, we made an exciting announcement to two of our seasoned rug-hookers who have been learning from U.S. rug-hooker Mary Anne Wise and assistant Jody Slocum, for the past three years. Rosa F. Garcia and Yolanda Calgua were pulled aside and told, through translation of their mentor, friend and OB Field Supervisor, Lucia Chavez, that they’d been selected to travel to the United States this coming September. Believing in the talent, energy and heart that her Guatemalan students have always put into their craft, and seeing that hooked into recycled-fabric rugs, Mary Anne worked to confirm an exhibition featuring their beautiful works. This September, The Anderson Center in Minneapolis, MN will exhibit Mary Anne Wise & Friends: The Art of the Hooked Rug, which will feature rugs from the OB rug-hooking groups. What’s even more amazing, is that Rosa and Yolanda, along with their mentor Lucia, will be right there to tell you all about it!
View their itinerary here!
Watch their reactions on Video below as Mary Anne, Lucia & Ramona deliver the news!
Welcome to our new Oxlajuj B’atz’ website! In an effort to bring you all the latest information, we’ve upgraded to a new, more interactive website. Here, you’ll find a blog that will hold stories from the field, volunteer experiences or just interesting topics of discussion. We’ve added more history and description of our main program areas, with photos and testimonials from the women members. Our Institutional Strengthening page will give you insight to some exciting organizational developments we’re undertaking to make our programs both needs and evidence-based. We’ll be putting new photos, videos and information about upcoming events all the time, so make sure to bookmark our page in your favorites! (and thanks for your patience as we tweak the page in its initial stages!). Thanks for your support and for being with us on this amazing journey!
We’re delighted to welcome our two summer fellows, partnering with OB and Nest for two months of exciting projects. Nikki and Darcy will help create a production guide for artisan products, learn about and strategize for our monitoring & evaluation system, and public outreach for our new center. Stop on by to say hello and learn about what inspired them to volunteer with Nest and OB!
