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by Suzanne Becker Bronk

All over the world, people are recognizing the power of women to transform their communities. Mercado Global is at the forefront of this pivotal movement. In September, the Clinton Global Initiative identified women’s entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and market-based models as key factors to creating positive change in developing countries. Mercado Global’s model encompasses all three of these approaches to transform one of the world’s most marginalized populations—rural indigenous women—into successful leaders and entrepreneurs.

Across Guatemala, female artisans partner with Mercado Global to gain access to a global marketplace, take part in training programs, and receive micro-loans to expand their businesses. Our model is changing the lives of thousands of people with staggering effectiveness:

  • Mercado Global sales triple the daily income of our partner artisans
  • Nearly 100% of our partner artisans’ children under the age of 14 are now enrolled in school
  • A majority of artisans’ families now have paved floors in their homes, reducing their susceptibility to disease
  • Food security—having enough to eat—has more than doubled, ensuring children no longer go to bed hungry

These changes mean the difference between barely surviving and thriving for mothers like Maria Vilma. Before this year, Maria had a hard time ensuring her five children had enough to eat. Paying the monthly school fees so that they could learn to read and write—an opportunity she never had—was out of the question.

Then Maria came to Mercado Global and received help organizing a cooperative with other mothers in her village. Today, rather than fighting to sell a few weavings a month, she has full-time work producing scarves and bags for U.S. companies such as Levi Strauss, Crate & Barrel, and TravelSmith. All of Maria’s children are now in school, and our investment in this artisan has impacted a family, a community, and generations to come.

The hundreds of women we serve have the ability and the will to lift their families out of poverty through hard work. We have built a model that connects them with major income opportunities; all they need is your support to fund the programs that allow them succeed in the global marketplace.

You hold the power to help women like Maria break the cycle of poverty and change their lives.

Yes! I want to harness the power of women to build strong communities and overcome poverty.

Click here to download our annual report and learn more about our impact.

You can also call us to donate at 203.772.4292 or email us at info@mercadoglobal.org.