LAS CRUCES — Members of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica at Mayfield High School have turned a classroom project into a charitable effort for Central America. Beginning this week, students are selling hand‑woven bracelets, called pulseras, before school and during lunch to support fair‑trade artisans in Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Connecting students with artisans
Each bracelet takes roughly an hour to make and is accompanied by a tag that displays a photograph and signature of the artisan who crafted the piece. The tags give students a personal glimpse into the lives of the makers, linking the small‑scale craftsmanship to the broader economic and cultural circumstances of the artisans’ families and communities.
Fair‑trade impact
According to Las Cruces Public Schools, The Pulsera Project provides fair‑trade employment for more than 200 artisans. Proceeds from sales at participating U.S. schools are directed toward initiatives that include educational scholarships, housing programs, environmental projects, disability advocacy, workers’ rights and community development. Since its founding in 2009, the nonprofit has partnered with nearly 4,000 school communities across all 50 states.
Learning beyond the classroom
For the Mayfield students, the bracelet sale is more than a fundraiser; it is an educational experience. The Pulsera Project encourages schools to weave cultural education into the sales process, helping students understand how fair‑trade employment can affect individuals, families and entire neighborhoods in Central America. Teacher and student volunteers organize the sales, handling everything from inventory to outreach.
How to support the project
The sale runs through Friday, Nov. 6. Anyone interested in supporting the effort can contact the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica sponsor, Itzel Rosales, at [email protected], or co‑sponsor Estela Guerra at [email protected] or by phone at 575‑649‑9287.
Broader community benefits
By purchasing a pulsera, Las Cruces residents contribute directly to the livelihoods of artisans thousands of miles away, while also reinforcing the values of service, cultural appreciation and global citizenship among the next generation of leaders at Mayfield High. The project exemplifies how local schools can partner with international fair‑trade initiatives to foster both economic opportunity abroad and character development at home.
Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.
