National Hispanic Heritage Month: FFTP and Mercado Global Empower Indigenous Women in Guatemala
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2025) – As a child in San Lucas, Guatemala, Cristina received her first traditional huipil from her mother — a colorful handwoven blouse that carries the stories of her ancestors. Today, she continues that tradition as a weaver and mother, determined to pass her heritage to the next generation.
Cristina’s story reflects the spirit of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the resilience, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic communities and to celebrate the independence days of several Latin American countries, including Guatemala.
It also highlights the impact of Food For The Poor’s partnership with Mercado Global, which empowers Indigenous women in Guatemala to preserve ancestral weaving practices while turning their skills into sustainable livelihoods.
Cristina’s daughter, Claudia, has also taken up the craft, while women like Silvia, a weaving coach and mother, help mentor others. Together, they are showing how cultural identity and economic opportunity can be woven into the same fabric.
A Visit Rooted in Culture and Empowerment
Earlier this year, FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine visited Mercado Global artisans in rural Guatemala. He observed women at work on backstrap looms — a tradition passed down for centuries — while also learning how their craft is being connected to high-end global markets.
“What I witnessed in Guatemala was not only the preservation of cultural identity, but also the creation of new opportunities,” Raine said. “These women are proving that heritage and innovation can go hand in hand.”
“Food For The Poor is proud to partner with Mercado Global because their model reflects what we believe: dignity, self-reliance, and faith in action,” Raine added. “By strengthening local traditions, we’re helping families build brighter futures.”
Mercado Global supports its artisans with vocational training, product development, quality control, and access to international markets. Their handcrafted goods are exported to fashion brands such as Stuart Weitzman and Nordstrom, creating sustainable income and long-term career paths for women who have traditionally been excluded from the formal economy.
A Scalable Model of Restored Dignity and Opportunity
Mercado Global’s impact has expanded beyond Guatemala, training Lenca women in Honduras whose weaving cooperative is now supported by FFTP.
In a Beyond the Plate podcast interview that aired in May, Mercado Global Co-Founder and Executive Director Ruth Álvarez DeGolia explained the transformational impact of income for women artisans.
“Before, I walked to the dump for scraps. Now I walk to my sewing machine,” she recalled one artisan sharing. “The power to earn your own dollar changes your life. There’s nothing more important in terms of being able to map out the future you want for yourself, your family, and your kids.”
She also shared her vision for what the future can hold as more women gain opportunity and recognition.
“My dream is that Indigenous women in rural Guatemala are seen for what they are — some of the best entrepreneurs in the world,” DeGolia said. “That they are no longer seen as victims of poverty, but as leaders who can feed their families, send their children to school, and build a great future right in their own communities. That is the new normal we are working to create.”
Watch DeGolia’s podcast interview here.
About Food For The Poor
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States, is committed to facilitating paths out of poverty and transforming lives. As an interdenominational Christian ministry, we help families across Latin America and the Caribbean. Our efforts span urgent humanitarian relief and long-term development – from emergency aid and hunger alleviation to education, housing, and economic empowerment. We follow a distinctive approach that integrates faith, multi-sector strategies, and trusted partnerships. Whenever possible, we strive to work at the community level, partnering with local leaders and residents to co-create sustainable solutions that address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Communications
954-471-0928
[email protected]
