Our Story

Asociación Tkéna grew from the work of Maricel Carrillo. In 2009 Maricel recognized that many of the women in her town needed to work. Many of them had children or other reasons that they needed to be home. She saw the effects on the women, their families, and the community when mothers were unable to contribute financially to their households.

​

She began to offer classes to the women in her community. Teaching them marketable skills that they could use to achieve their personal and family goals, and still be home if they needed to be.  Over the years many people have passed through her classes, learning things as diverse as jewelry making and hydroponics. But her real love is sewing.

​

The sewing classes started with hand needles and for used clothes for fabric, because it was what they had. Over the years, through lots of hard work, and collaboration, Maricel’s project has grown from a handful of women with hand needles to over 60 women with sewing machines.

​

Many of the women now produce professional quality garments. They use these skills to make and market products to their friends and neighbors. Many are making significant contributions to the household finances each month, some are supporting their families. 

​

The Association has opened a “Pasamaneria” (fabric store) and each participant in the sewing classes has access to an interest free USD$30 credit. Most students take advantage of the credit as it allows them to produce garments and sell them before they have to pay back the materials.

​

We made great progress in the last 3 years, but our 2022 goal is even more ambitious.

We plan to become a 100% self sustaining organization by the end of the year.

In order to do that we need to:

1. Complete construction on the new school space.

2. Set up the workshop so that the women who have graduated have a safe, comfortable place to work should they choose to work outside the home.

3. Find customers for what they make.

4. Secure reliable transportation for the teachers and the equipment so that classes in remote areas can continue.