2016

This summer, we installed 15 more stoves. Every year the process becomes more efficient, timely, and effective. From visiting the factory, placing the order, to hiring the team of men to build the stoves, each part has become more streamlined. Though, after visiting 24 homes, it was incredibly difficult to choose which families would receive stoves this year; therefore we decided to make a raffle (as you'll see in the video) with the names of each woman, knowing the right way would happen. Overall, as always, it was an honor and joy to be with our friends in Puerta Abajo and share special moments together. We love seeing the community passionately rally behind each of the building stages!  Here's a quick recap video:

Created

Created by women who were Created for a purpose.

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Next month is the start of our exciting new venture - "Created." Our very own Audrey will be going to Puerta Abajo for 2 weeks to teach a group of women in the community how to knit and crochet. Our goal is to give them an opportunity to be self- sustainable by selling their handmade products here in the states. 

but we need YOUR help!! If you or anyone you know has yarn/knitting/crochet supplies we are collecting donations until May 1st to send with Audrey!

Watercolor and Ink

We are so excited to finally announce that the Project is teaming up with Watercolor & Ink, an amazing business started by a dear friend. 
Buy a phone case, pillow, clock, print, card, etc. on their site on Society 6! 
All proceeds from the Puerta Project titled products go towards the Project. 
http://society6.com/watercolorandink

One Dollar

What would you do if you could only spend a dollar a day? Would you spend it on food? Would you go without eating in order to buy clothes or school supplies? How would you prepare for the unexpected economical emergency with only a dollar in your pocket?
      These are questions that 1.1 billion people around the world face each day. Including our friends in Puerta Abajo. 
         Poverty is a word that can sometimes seem unfathomable to us in the first world. We live in a society where skipping a meal is out of the question, where people pay hundreds of dollars for one piece of clothing. It's very hard for us to imagine a world without the bare necessities. In fact, it's almost impossible. 
     I used to wonder why "those people in far away places" were forced to live under the title of "poor" for the entirety of their lives. If they worked hard enough, why couldn't they reach the same economical status as me? Sadly enough...
      Poverty is one, big vicious cycle. There are countless challenges that work against the penniless as they try to rise up economically. Many of the rural Guatemalan communities are centered around an agricultural lifestyle, prone to unpredictable hardships like droughts and natural disasters. Even with hard work and consistency, the economy is not designed to uplift the countless communities living in poverty. 
      It is difficult to formulate a black and white plan of attacking and ending this worldwide crisis. Different approaches provide various outcomes as they involve different aspects of society. But, no matter how big or how small, each plan and aspiration has the power to impact an individual, a family, a community. 
        These four college students decided to see what living on a dollar a day was really like.... Knowledge itself has the capability of changing lives. 




---"It's not due to laziness that someone is poor. It's not due to a lack of ambition or a lack of intelligence, it's because they lack the things that we take advantage of everyday."----