Pulsera Project

Programs: The pulsera project's non-profit social enterprise model is unique because it enriches lives both in the u. S. And abroad by weaving pulsera sales into an educational program. We sell pulseras to provide opportunities for central americans while educating thousands of u. S. Students about fair trade, central american culture, and a range of social justice issues. We encourage students to open their hearts to care about others, but we also encourage students to open their minds to the amazing diversity of ideas and perspectives in our world. This win-win model is the magic of the pulsera project. See schedule o. The three interwoven parts of the pulsera project: 1) we employ nearly 200 nicaraguan and guatemalan artisans in fair trade jobs. 2) we sell the artisans' work as part of an educational program in u. S. Schools. 3) we return sale proceeds to nicaragua and guatemala for investment in community well-being. What we did in 2017 - the three woven threads - education, employment, and investmentsu. S. Educational programnearly a million u. S. Students participated in the pulsera project's program in 2017, engaging schools across the country in conversations about fair trade & social justice while raising funds for social impact programs in central america. Pulseras made in central america start conversations about the things that we buy and who makes them, and encourage a sense of self-reflection about our roles in an interconnected world. Since 2009, pulsera project collaborations with more than 2,200 us schools in 50 states have enriched the world with more thoughtful global citizens. In 2017 we partnered with educators and students in 837 schools, up from 594 school collaborations in 2016. Artisan employment and benefitsthe pulsera project employs about 180 pulsera artisans in nicaragua and guatemala and invests pulsera proceeds from sales in the u. S. In artisan education, artisan health, and housing benefits, on top of continued fair trade employment for a growing number of artisans - all part of the mutually beneficial exchange between u. S. Students and central american artisans. Investments in central americathe rapid growth of the pulsera project has created opportunities to impact lives in ways that we never imagined in 2009. In 2017, we invested in a wide array of community initiatives like grupo fenix's youth scholarship and leadership program in totogalpa, la esperanza granada's scholarship program in granada, si a la vida's youth programs in managua, la base's worker cooperative programs in leon, universidad americana's social enterprise program, and others. The project invested $30,000 in the media development and investment fund (mdif), a us non-profit organization which supports free press initiatives in guatemala and other countries by empowering citizens with access to accurate news. Where sale funds goartisans and their communities are always the largest financial beneficiaries of the pulsera project's programs. In 2017, the pulsera project raised $927,556 from product sales, much of which will be invested in 2018. Nonetheless, with the help of prior year sales, we invested $522,659 in central america in 2017 to pay artisan and staff salaries, to fund artisan benefits, and to invest in community projects. At year's end the project's reserve/investment fund stood at $305,341. Pulsera project administration since the project's founding in 2009, volunteers on the board of directors have accomplished over 99% of the project's general administration, ensuring that nearly all funds raised are invested in central american communities and u. S. Cultural education. While salaries are paid to team pulsera to operate the educational and artisan programs, seven volunteer board members dedicate hundreds of hours to support the thousands of teachers and students who also volunteer their time. Members of the board meet monthly to ensure that the project spends all funds according to our non-profit mission and us law. The pulsera project in the usathe pulsera project headquarters is in charleston, sc, where throughout 2017 jillian bonner, colin crane, and chris howell managed the pulsera school-sale program, created educational content, collaborated with 837 schools, received, counted, sorted, and sent hundreds of thousands of pulseras, answered 17,170 e-mails, maintained the website, managed social media, created films and videos, skyped with a dozen student classes, attended seven language and educational conferences, traveled to nicaragua to meet with artisans and evaluate programs, and much, much more. In 2017, team charleston also published our website in spanish, collaborated with hundreds of spanish teachers, created an interactive map of artisan group locations, led a spanish teacher trip to nicaragua, overhauled our program accounting system, and began a collaboration with spanish language textbook publisher, santillana usa. Education in the usa the pulsera project was invited through the doors of 837 schools in 2017, welcomed by a wide range of community service and human rights groups, but mostly by spanish language educators, 699 to be exact. For the third year running, eight spanish teachers traveled with us to nicaragua, where the trail of adventure turned into the road of professional development, and where teachers dreamed-up new lesson plans to infuse classrooms with a sense of wonder and other key ingredients that make lessons stick. The pulsera project in nicaragua and guatemala - team pulseraregional director evan durand leads team pulsera at the project's office/artisan center in granada - a busy hub where artisans meet year-round with staff to discuss scholarships, health, and housing issues, and to sell their pulseras. In 2017, the project employed three artisan advocates whose primary job was to enhance artisan well-being. Skarlette bermudez, archimedes hernndez, and ninoska davila are three world-class listeners and their combined wisdom improved countless lives. Oscar obando entered his fourth year managing project administration so that other staff can focus on artisan well-being. Staff members jorge morales, camilo mejia, and jael madriz are the heart of the project's evaluation and collaboration program which began in 2015. They get to know people and programs, evaluate social impact, and recommend the best ways to achieve our mission. In 2017, they began a major initiative to find and evaluate organizations working to empower women across nicaragua, an effort that will continue in 2018. The pulsera artisans - employmentthe pulsera project invested $252,921 in artisan products in 2017, making employment the project's largest investment. We also invested $100,678 in artisan programs and programs run by other non-profit organizations. The pulsera project works with about 180 artisans throughout guatemala and nicaragua, including men and women, young and old, individuals and families, and collectives and co-ops. As members of the fair trade federation, we pay fair trade prices that are usually double or triple the local market price. Nearly the entire nicaraguan operation, including most of the eight-person staff, is devoted to raising life prospects and well-being outcomes for artisans, but also for artisans' extended families and households, totaling about 660 people in all. Artisans and their families enjoy a sense of community, and benefits like health care, scholarships, housing, legal support, and social events. The pulsera project serves as an extensive resource for artisans, many of whom are developing personal goals, life skills, and learning to manage resources. Our goal is to help people thrive in all areas of their lives. Artisan health, scholarships, and housingin 2017, $73,791 was invested in direct artisan benefits, including the following: the pulsera project invested $9,300 in upgrading healthcare for over 100 artisans and their families, to ensure that everyone in the pulsera family had access to excellent healthcare, including access to resources for mental healthcare and preventative care. The artisans of the tejedoras maya mam weaving collective in guatemala received $10,000 funding for safe stoves, water filters, and health benefits. Twenty-eight students received scholarship funding totaling $5,921 to study everything from psychology, to nursing, to english, to natural medicine and welding. Some scholarships went to artisans, others to artisans' children, and still others to youths in leadership programs led by project partners. In the off-the-grid solar community of totogalpa, we funded ten university and secondary school scholarships ($5936) as part of a youth leadership program run by grupo fenix. Students co-lead sustainable agriculture and energy projects that make their community a destination for researchers and visitors from nicaragua and abroad.