Give to Gain

March 6, 2026

The women of the Asociación Artesanas (Artisan Association) de San Juan La Laguna on the shores of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala have never lacked talent.

In this vibrant hub of Indigenous weaving communities in the western highlands of Guatemala, their hands carry generations of weaving knowledge. From natural dyes made from plants and intricate patterns that hold identity to textiles that reflect both knowledge and pride. They are not waiting to be empowered. They are already entrepreneurs.

What they seek, and what partnership makes possible, is room to grow. It’s access.

Access to tools that increase production and quality.
Access to welcoming, functional spaces that invite customers in.
Access to digital platforms that connect their work to the world beyond the shoreline of Lake Atitlán.

This upcoming International Women’s Day, the theme Give to Gain invites us to consider what women gain when we invest not in charity, but in capacity. Working alongside  local partners, Change for Children’s support to strengthen the Asociación Artesanas de San Juan La Laguna has recently shown us exactly that.

In late 2025, renovations began at the Association. Industrial sewing machines were installed and immediately put to use. New foot looms were delivered after careful selection alongside the artisans themselves. Walls were refreshed. Brightly coloured murals now celebrate weaving traditions and the women who founded the association. A website is being developed — one the women will manage themselves — to share their products with the world.

Paint and machinery may seem small things — practical upgrades — but their impact is transformational. When women gain access, small things become turning points.

A stronger loom means greater production.
Greater production means steadier income.
Steadier income means school fees paid, food on the table, savings for tomorrow.

The artisans are strengthening their storefront to attract more visitors. They are expanding product lines. They are building digital skills. They are shaping their own narrative online. This partnership began by listening, by understanding what the women themselves envisioned for their association and their future.

When partnership is strong, women gain power.
When access to tools expands, women gain income.
When we give visibility, women gain voice.

By amplifying expertise, resourcing enterprise, and making space for women to be seen and heard, women gain. And entire communities gain a future woven with possibility.

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate women entrepreneurs — who are weaving both textiles and opportunity — and the shared gains that come when we invest in their leadership.

Give to gain.

Central America and the Caribbean Guatemala In The Field Indigenous Peoples Women