UPAVIM

UPAVIM was first started in 1989 with the initiative and help of an organization called Sister Parish; a group of 10 women decided to create a dental clinic and continued with other projects including the production of crafts. They began to sell them in national and international markets. Today, UPAVIM exports beautiful fair trade crafts all over the world.

The mission of UPAVIM is to empower the women in the community, with the hope to enable them to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families by providing access to education and employment opportunities, health and chidl care services, and personal and professional developmental programs.

Your fair trade craft purchases directly support low-cost educational and medical programs. UPAVIM has also started additional small businesses, including a bakery and a soy milk factory. International donors, many of them crafts customers, continue to fund scholarships for more than 430 elementary and junior high school students. All of these projects are overseen by the volunteer run UPAVIM Board of Directors and the five program committees. At UPAVIM, the women as members have control over business decisions.

Their Judaica products include a variety of women’s jewelry made from metal and beads.

UPAVIM is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.

UPAVIM wholesales their products to retail outlets, sells their products on-line, and through consignment where individuals and organizations sell their products in their communities.

Mary Joan Ferrara-Marsland
9607 Dr. Perry Road, Suite 114
Ijamsville, MD 21754
301-515-5911
infor@upavim-mayanhands.org

http://www.upavimcrafts.org

 

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