Introducing Diana

The Mayamam cooperative is made up of a group of talented backstrap weavers, foot loom weavers and seamstresses, who are all women. Our followers and fans love to admire their handmade products for their rich colors, beautiful patterns, interesting weaves and quality finishing. The seamstresses play a vital role in the cooperative both with product design and ensuring consistent quality from the mitered corners of napkins and placemats right down to the linings of toiletry bags and beach totes. Today we would like to introduce you to one of the seamstresses, Diana.

Diana lives in a home with her parents along with an older and a younger brother. She is 23 years old and has lived in Cajolá her whole life. With support from her parents she went to school through the high school but never really had a plan for what to do after that.

One day, a friend told Diana about a sewing opportunity with Mayamam Wevers. Since she had some sewing experience, she decided to check it out. Her eyes were opened to a whole new world. “When I started here, they trained me on how to sew on an industrial machine and make products I'd never seen before. Now that I've learned how to make the products, I feel more confident with the results.” Her favorite products to sew are the single and double Wine Totes, pieces that demand patience, precision, and skilled craftsmanship.

After a year of working at the cooperative, Diana learned that Grupo Cajolá, the community organizing group that Mayamam belongs to, offers scholarships for further education. When she had finished high school, a level that many here don't reach, she had thought she had reached the limit of her education.  However, hearing about this opportunity inspired her, and she decided to continue studying. Now currently in her second semester of Law and Social Sciences, Diana attends classes on weekends while working full time during the week. She notes, “Studying and working has forced me to organize my routine and habits to fulfill both commitments. Both are important at this point in my life because I want to earn a university degree, and working also provides me with an income that helps cover some of my study expenses in addition to my scholarship.”

Diana’s family is very proud of her work and studies. She knows that completing her degree will not only help her but also inspire other young people to follow their dreams as not all parents support their daughters in continuing their studies. Once Diana finishes her studies, she would like to be a lawyer and open her own office, ideally in Cajolá. For now, she is enjoying her time working with her hands while enjoying the camaraderie she has with the group.