Sustainable Business Model for A Maya Women's Artisan Group
Team: Nick Smith, Eileen Reyes, Aparna Rau, Jessenia Pillasagua, N'deye Niang, David Dorfman
Semester: Spring 2008
Liderezas Mayas Business and Design / The New School GPIA and Parsons / CARE
The Liderezas Mayas Business and Design project offered students the opportunity to gain an understanding of key concepts and skills essential to become global consultants for small business enterprises focusing on women's empowerment. This Spring-Summer project specifically involved working with an organized group of Mayan women in Guatemala to develop a sustainable business model, designing and producing handicrafts for a broad market, and developing their business and organizational skills. CARE has been working in the Guatemalan highlands with this group, who have identified their textiles and handicrafts as products that they would like to sell more broadly than their village market.
This was a unique, interdisciplinary Practicum that joined students from the Graduate Program in International Affairs and Parsons The New School for Design. During Spring semester examined and practiced skills around business, organization building, and product design and development. In summer, students travelled to Guatemala (students pay for air flight - New School pays all other expenses) for the month of June to work directly with the Mayan women in developing a sustainable business enterprise.
Students who were not able to travel to Guatemala were required to submit a research paper to successfully complete the course. Students graduating in May and traveling to Guatemala received an Incomplete, which was to be changed to a grade once the summer trip is successfully completed.
Students interested in this Practicum must email their resumes and a brief statement of interest highlighting either Spanish or relevant business/design/organizational skills. Student selection for this Practicum section will be based on relevant skills including language, and an evaluation by the faculty.
CARE: One of the world's largest humanitarian aid agencies, CARE has a multisectoral program in Guatemala, including economic development. Recognizing that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change. CARE's economic development programs assist impoverished families by supporting moneymaking activities, especially those operated by women. CARE initiates community savings-and-loan programs and provides technical training to help people begin or expand small businesses that will increase family income. Worldwide CARE works in the sectors of agriculture; economic development; education; emergency relief; health; HIV/AIDS; nutrition; water sanitation and environmental health. For more information on CARE.
Core Documents
Terms of Reference
Timeline
Final Presentation
Additional Documents
2008 Spring - Ajkem'a Loy'a - Liderezes Mayas Project Feasibility Study.pdf
Navigate: All Spring 2008 practicums