Training in typical Embroidery: an Alternative for the Women of the Mayan Forest

The flora and fauna protection area of Otoch Máax Yetel Kooh is located 18 km north of the archaeological site of Cobá. It has an extent of 5.367 hectares, and is within the Ejido of Valladolid, in the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The area includes different types of vegetation including medium height forest, savannah and partly flooded low vegetation.

Nowadays this area is inhabitated by Yucatecan Maya communities that settled here approximately 40 years ago, first in order to work as gum collectors (chicleros) and later on in the so-called wood stations, cutting wood for construction purposes.

Today they continue working their small fields (milpas) and they complement their income with masonry work in the tourist area of Cancun-Tulum. The main communities are: Punta Laguna, Yodzonot, as well as Campamento Hidalgo which is located in the south of this area. Our research shows that there are approximately 500 inhabitants within the protected area and the adjoining zone.

Objectives

To consolidate the quality of the women´s products of the area;
To promote the self-sustaining organisation and management of the group of women for selling and marketing of the crafts.

Expectations

That the women of Punta Laguna and Campamento Hidalgo improve their quality of life through activities that are part of their culture (since this is their typical embroidering method). Through a series of workshops the women will improve the quality of their products, diversifying the products and improving the commercial organization in order to enhance their incomes.

Results

A workshop held in in September/December 2002 in collaboration with the Association Tumben Kinam A.C. enabled 16 women of the community of Campamento Hidalgo to improve their craftwork. The quality and the variety of the group´s embroidery improved considerably. We expect that the women of Punta Laguna develop a system of revolving funds in order to pay for their training with their income, thereby promoting their self-sufficiency in organisation and management.

Right now we are working at facilitating the construction of two craftstores. One will be in Punta Laguna and the other in Campamento Hidalgo, with the purpose that the women can offer their products to more visitors and improve their sale strategies.