From the Guatemalan highlands to the world.

• Author: Seltier, Evelyn
• Position: FEATURE

How can we break the vicious cycle of poverty?

Ana Sophia Reyes knows how: connecting traditional artisans in Guatemala with customers in Europe. This solution reflects how important it is to know your marketplace so women in minority communities can receive a fair salary.

It seems to have been fate when back in 2014 Ana Sophia Reyes and her partner Juan Augusto visited the touristic area of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala's southwestern highlands.

Local artisans swarmed across the area trying to sell their handmade goods of Mayan tradition. Nothing unusual.

'But what was shocking to us was they kept reducing the price for their high-quality rugs so that we would finally agree to buy. This was not about making a decent living anymore. This was about pure survival.'

After talking to the artisans about the time and money they invested in producing the rugs, and weighing up costs such as transport, the couple thought:

$25 for a living room rug does not make any sense.

Minority communities of Mayan descent in the remote regions of Guatemala often are forced to choose between preserving their traditions and making a decent living.

Their work and talent are not valued enough in the local market.

'So many are born into a poor economic situation', explains Ana Sophia. How do you break out and create jobs that pay?

Transform, sell, and live well...

Ana Sophia Reyes has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. An industrial engineer by profession, the Guatemalan executive wondered:

'How do you seize strengths and address weaknesses? I like to look for tools that can help businesses overcome challenges.'

With Juan Augusto working in the business of high-quality rugs and knowing its potential for high-end markets, it was only a matter of time before Ana Sophia and Juan Augusto founded their own company, Achiote.

Achiote Guatemalan Goods promotes the rich Mayan talent and tradition of hand weaving - and at the same time improves the living conditions of weavers from indigenous communities, especially women.

'We are convinced women are the agents of change in our society.'

Ana Sophia explains that in traditional weaving at Momostenango, women are in charge of spinning the yarn and dyeing. As this is part of their household duties, they are not paid.

'We recognize and remunerate the value that each person adds to the production We don't only pay the women in the community; we also give them the skills to become successful in business.'

Achiote has connected over...