The Guatemalan Civil War is the longest civil war in Latin American history. The war ran from 1960 to 1996. It had a profound impact on Guatemala. Several thousand people disappeared during the war and approximately 200,000 were killed. One of the reasons for the war was the economic and social discrimination against Guatemala’s indigenous peoples, many of them Mayan. The indigenous people made up more than half of Guatemala’s total population. Since the war ended, many of the Mayan women have been left widowed from the loss of their loved ones. Now, more than 12 years later many are still recovering.

We are currently focused on one city widely referred to as ChiChi, home of the largest market in Central America, where we are helping bring homes to these women. The above picture is an image of the feet of a woman that moved into a home we built. The stories written on those feet are endless. Please take 20 seconds to see what we are building in Guatemala. When you buy our bags and wallets, this is what you are helping build. We are going in February to build a new house. Help us make it a reality – buy a bag for a friend, share this story and be part of changing a life this Christmas season.

WIDOW HOME BUILD from PLYWOOD PEOPLE on Vimeo.