Some of the topics we discussed were the narrative part of the PCPP final report….

Executive Summary: What were the project's goals and objectives? (Were the goals met?) Describe any changes in the initial project objectives. Did the community feel they reached the goals of the project? How do you know?

 The Laguna Women’s Group Co-op project consisted of three major goal components.  The first goal was to receive training on how to make quality cuxtal bags. Some women already knew how to make cuxtal, but they wanted to make them with better quality. Then there were young women who did not know how to make cuxtals, and since they attended the sessions they were able to learn how to make cuxtals. This goal was met because over 20 women went to the training and many youth were able to learn how to make cuxtals and to make them well. We had 8, eight hour, sessions, which was exactly what the women needed to learn the basics of quality cuxtal making.

The second goal was to be trained in many new designs, which a lady from Guatemala came over to teach the Laguna women’s group. This goal was met because all the women attended the training and increased their new cuxtal design skills. They continue to practice and make cuxtals with new designs even after the training has finished. The goal was met because all 20 women received 15, eight hour, sessions.

 The third step was for our women’s group to receive training in marketing, which was accomplished. However, the women received less marketing training than anticipated in the proposal because they wanted to spend more time on getting training on improving their cuxtal crafts. We originally thought that the women needed about 3 weeks marketing training, but it ended up that all that was needed was 2, eight hour, sessions of marketing training. With that training the women’s group felt they met the goal because they now have new ideas where and how to market their cuxtal bags.

 The Laguna Women’s Group feels they reached the goal of the project because they received and participated in all the training that was given to them to increase their income. They now have an advantage over the other Belizean women’s group because Laguna’s women’s group now knows how to make quality cuxtal bags with lots of new designs, which are not commonly seen in Belize.

Also another major goal was to increase the group’s selling and by creating a place for the women to sell and with the grant money we were able to build a thatch house, which will be a place to increase sales. Having this building built was a big step for the Laguna Women’s Group in having a successful business. They now have their own place that tourist in the village can come and visit and buy more of the women’s crafts because their cuxtal and crafts will be on display.

Over the course of the year, with the help of the grant I have seen the women take charge of their business. Through this project they have become more independent, and are able to better see to the health and well-being of themselves and their families because they will have a greater income.

This was all accomplished in order to attain local financial sustainability for the women of Laguna.

 Indicators of Success: How did the project build capacity? What new skills have been acquired by community members and/or their organizations? (Also update the indicators of success you outlined in the PCPP project proposal and be specific.)

The project was able to build a capacity by giving the women new skills they needed in order to have a successful business. The women were able to learn many new skills and knowledge that were acquired by the women of Laguna

One way that this project was able to build capacity was that the team spirit of the women’s group has increased. At first the women were nervous working with other women. However, by the end of this project the women of Laguna have learned to work with each other strengthening the Laguna Women’s Group!

A second way that this project built capacity was that the project increased the women’s level of appreciation and understanding of the cuxtal craft they are making. They now appreciate good quality of the cuxtal and they now better understand the strategies and techniques used.

The first new skill that was acquired by the women was that they learned how to make better quality cuxtals. In the proposal we had that the women of Laguna would learn to make better quality jewelry and baskets; however, we just ended up strictly working with cuxtals not jewelry or baskets. 

The second skill acquired was that Laguna women’s group also got training in new designs and it was learned by over 20 women and youths, which have increased the number of cuxtals made. The women now have a bigger selection of well made and new designed cuxtals. This will also increase revenue in the future, which as the proposal suggested this project helped the health and well-being of the women in so many ways!

Third, the women of Laguna have learned new marketing strategies and skills that they did not know before. The women have been able to sell more with the help of the marketing trainings.

Sustainability: How will community members apply their new skills or otherwise sustain the benefits of the project? How will they cover any recurring costs?

The community members will apply their new skills to continue producing and making new cuxtals. They will display them in the new thatch house built for the groups business to be successful. They will be able to cover any recurring costs because they already got the training they need and if in the future they need any more training for specific skills they would sell more bags in order to get the money needed for more training.

The building will be used as a craft center and the certain percentage of the sales (10%$) will go back to the sustainability of the group/project.

Since the capacity builders have increased it is strongly believed and they have the capability of fundraising and sustaining this project.

Additional Information: What unexpected events (positive or negative) did you encounter during the project? Based on your experiences, do you have any recommendations for other communities implementing a similar project?
I would like to start with the unexpected positive events that we encountered was that the support and participation from the women was amazing. I was surprised how many women and youth were interested and learned how to make cuxtals. Their enthusiasm was inspiring. We didn’t realize that there were so many women in the village who do not know how to make cuxtal; however, the women ended up being extremely interested and learning how to make cuxals increasing the members of Laguna Women’s Group. Participation went above and beyond what was anticipated in the proposal. The women stay during lunch break or after hours working and perfecting their cuxtal craft.

The only negative even was that we had to change the budget around because the cost of the thatch building was more than planned in the proposal. Therefore, we just had fewer marketing sessions, which ended up being better in the end. Overall this project was a huge success and we are pleased to see that it will be sustainable.

Based on my experience I recommend implementing a similar project because this project helped many women in my community, but not only the women but their families. Now because of the trainings the women have gotten more confident and are more financially independent and not so reliant on just the male figure. They can help send their children to school or to the doctors without acquiring more debt. The women will have a new freedom and this project was able help the women earn more respect and become more self-reliant!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.