Buy a Matata By Lanny Smith |
Matatas, or string bags, are part of the culture of the Indigenous Lenca, a sub-group of the Mayas, who live in Morazán, El Salvador. They are hand-made by the mothers of the children who attend our "kinders" or CIDIs (see Educating the Children).
You can help support our work by buying and helping us sell matatas. When you buy a matata you are helping a Salvadoran Indigenous family support itself through its own culture and contributing to the education, mental health, cultural preservation, human rights, and nutrition of over 180 children, aged two to seven, who live in an isolated, rural area of extreme poverty that is still recovering from12 years of frequent bombings during the civil war.
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| Shirley Novak and Barbara DeFrancqueville raised money for the kinders by selling matatas at a Latino Festival in Syracuse, NY. |
Matatas make great book bags for school or work; environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic or paper bags at the grocery store; attractive handbags for anything, from cosmetics to beach articles; and great gifts for anyone interested in preserving Indigenous culture and promoting Human Rights.
Caring for your matata: The fibers used to make your matata are extremely strong and should withstand many years of use. If you anticipate using the matata in wet conditions, you can keep the dye from running by soaking it in cold salt water.
Matatas are $12 a piece, plus shipping. To order, call our office at 404-377-3566.
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