Alliance to Promote Equity and Development in Sacatepéquez (AFEDES)

Located in Guatemala - Founded in 1993 - IDEX partner since 2004

Weaver Salomé Chocoyo demonstrates how to use the foot loom.

AFEDES was founded by women seeking to improve their economic opportunities.

AFEDES is comprised of 31 women’s groups in the Sacatepéquez province with nearly 1,000 members, promoting political participation and social empowerment of indigenous people. AFEDES was founded by a group of Maya Cak’chiquel women seeking to improve their economic opportunities. Its core work entails training on gender, self-esteem, women’s rights, and civic participation, as well as income-generating skills, financial management and girls’ education.

The economic development program provides microcredit and training to groups of women to carry out agriculture, livestock, weaving and sewing projects. It also helps them market their merchandise. IDEX funding has been used to launch a weaver’s capacity building program and the “TUPUEDES” store that both sells thread and other materials to member-weavers at cost. The store also sells finished products to the public at fair trade prices. Current activities also place an emphasis on women’s political participation as well as health, wellness and reproductive rights.

AFEDES was founded in 1993, and was re-constituted in 1998 after the Guatemalan civil war ended. IDEX has been working with AFEDES since 2004.