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Each year, towards the end of the summer, Mercado Global completes its annual Social Impact Survey to better understand the areas in which we are succeeding and where we need to improve. This year, the results of the study indicated some extremely encouraging results in a variety of areas, including savings, financial literacy, education, health, community partnership and leadership. After looking over the survey, I picked out five indications of our success that really jumped out at me: 1. Improved Empowerment and Leadership Skills Our partner artisans are women who have survived decades of civil war, who have raised their children as single mothers because their husbands either immigrated to the United States or were killed during the war, and who have managed not only to endure these hardships but to prevail by cultivating incredible artistic abilities. With these kinds of accomplishments, these women have the right to be respected and especially to respect themselves. It is with this knowledge in mind that we focus so much of our efforts on providing leadership opportunities to women so that they can gain self confidence and empowerment to benefit themselves, their families, and their communities.

In Mercado Global’s 2009 Social Impact Survey, our partner artisans’ reports of their feelings about leadership and community involvement were encouraging. In 2009, a majority of our partner artisans had a leadership position within their community in the past 12 months. In 2008, this figure was 31.7%. Moreover, in 2009, 70% of artisans said they would like to be part of the next leadership term in their groups. In 2008, this statistic was 60.9%. It is fantastic to know that more and more of our partner artisans are acquiring the confidence to lead. 2. Installation of Cement Floors This PDF from Habitat for Humanity discusses the serious problems that arise from having dirt floors in the home. Among these problems are that dirt floors that get wet during Guatemala’s six month rainy season often stay wet throughout the duration of the rainy season, making the home cold and uncomfortable for the family inside. During the other half of the year, dirt floors can get so dry that the house is constantly dusty, causing pulmonary problems for members of the family. Dirt floors are also not washable, which can cause members of a family to get sick, especially the children. The Habitat for Humanity report included an interview with the principal of a highland school on this issue:

Damian Lopez, the principal of a village school in the Guatemalan highlands, estimates that 200-300 people in the area around his village die each year from illnesses they get from parasites. “Most of the people who die are young children,” he says. “When someone walks into a house, their shoes might transport parasites onto the floor. It is easy for little children playing on the floor to get exposed to these parasites.”

In 2008, a majority of our partner artisans reported that they had dirt floors in their homes. Within the past year, however, an overwhelming majority of our partner artisans earned enough money to install cement floors. Installation of cement floors not only improves the comfort and health of families. When children are sick less, they miss less school, and their grades improve. Likewise, when adults are sick less, they are able to earn more money to support their families and communities. 3. Increased Savings Savings serve as insurance for unforeseen disasters and help accumulate capital to invest in the future. Prior to working with Mercado Global, savings were unheard of in our partner artisans’ communities. Now that they are earning more money, Mercado Global emphasizes the importance of savings, accumulating assets, and investing within the cooperative as the best strategy to prepare for unforeseen setbacks. With the help of the Levi Strauss Foundation, we will soon be implementing a matched savings program.

Our effort to encourage saving earnings has produced fantastic outcomes.  In 2009, our partner cooperatives reported saving an average of Q927, which improved from an average of Q375 in 2008. Moreover, our Social Impact Assessment for 2009 suggests increases in our partner artisans’ levels of financial literacy. 96% of the artisans participate at least a little in the finances of their households. This significantly increased from 75.6% in 2008. 4. Greater Access to Electricity and Water Increased family income through Mercado Global sales has significantly decreased poverty indicators for our artisans’ families, specifically access to electricity and potable water. According to the World Bank, only 50% of indigenous Guatemalans living in rural areas have access to electricity. In our 2009 Social Impact Survey, 98% of our partner artisans reported having electricity in their homes. Moreover, in a country in which approximately 28% of the general population lacks access to potable water, only 8% of our partner artisans reported lacking access to potable water, which decreased from 15.9% in 2008. 5. Bigger Homes Rural Guatemalans often have to live with several family members in very small homes. This decreases overall comfort and increases susceptibility to disease. Last year, our partner artisans’ homes contained an average of two rooms. In 2009, due to increased earnings from sales through Mercado Global, our partner artisans and their families are living in bigger homes, which contain an average of between three and four rooms. Ultimately, while 2009’s Social Impact Survey provided a great deal of encouraging indicators concerning the success of our efforts, it also reminded us that we have to keep up our efforts to achieve our goals.