The Maya Traditions Foundation (known locally as Fundación Tradiciones Mayas) was born in 1998, as a personal initiative of social worker and weaver Jane Mintz, to provide much needed assistance to the Maya people in the region surrounding Lake Atitlan in Guatemala during the civil war.

Initially, support was provided though the setting up of fair trade retail and wholesale markets, however, Jane´s support has vastly expanded over time to include education, community health and artistry development programs and in 2008, Maya Traditions became a Foundation and legal Guatemalan non-profit.

Today the Foundation works with six community weaving groups, has provided more than 2,200 scholarships, holds regular artisan workshops and is involved in community health projects that preserve and integrate traditional Maya medicines and spirituality with modern medicine.

We continue to advocate for the women in Fair Trade markets in order to help them increase income and preserve back strap weaving as a traditional art form.

You can help support us by buying our Fair Trade Products, making donations or by volunteering you time with us. Please see the Maya Traditions site for more information.