Indigenous Women in Guatemala Stitch a Future of Opportunities at Home

Guatemala – Ana Cecilia has always dreamed of becoming a seamstress, but without training or access to resources, that dream seemed distant. In rural Guatemala, where opportunities for women – especially indigenous women – are scarce, economic independence often feels like an unattainable goal.

However, her long-term career goal is one step closer to becoming a reality since she joined the Impúlsate programme, which provides women with training in tailoring, dressmaking, and even driving, allowing them to create traditional garments and handcrafted clothing and preserve their cultural identity at the same time.

Implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of the Government of Japan, this initiative is equipping women with technical skills, helping them to achieve economic independence and create employment opportunities for themselves and other women within their own communities.

For Ana Cecilia, this opportunity was life changing. She owned a sewing machine at home but lacked the skills to turn her passion into a business. “I had always wanted to learn to sew, but I didn’t know how,” she says. Now, with the technical training she received, Ana Cecilia is producing high-quality garments and earning an income. Her next goal: to open her own sewing shop and prove that success can also be achieved at home.

Building a future at home

Guatemala, a country rich in cultural diversity with 24 ethnic groups, has long struggled with gender disparity in the workforce. Of its 17 million people, more than 9 million are women*, yet their participation in the labour market remains disproportionately low. According to the National Strategy for the Economic Empowerment of Women in Guatemala, urban women have a labour force participation rate of nearly 50 per cent, but for indigenous and rural women, the numbers are significantly lower. Limited access to education, financial resources, and formal employment often pushes women to consider migration as their only viable option.

Like Ana Cecilia, Silvia also started from scratch. Before Impúlsate, she had never used a sewing machine. Now, she confidently cuts fabric, creates patterns, and stitches garments. “I can help my family and earn an income,” she says. Like many others, Silvia once considered migrating in search of work. Today, she is focused on building her future in Guatemala.

Francisca was on the verge of leaving Guatemala for the second time when she learned about Impúlsate. With few economic opportunities available, she believed migration was her only way forward. Today, she owns a sewing business in her community. “Last year, I was thinking of leaving my country,” she says. “But learning to sew has changed my plans. We can make a living here too – there are opportunities in Guatemala.”

Preserving culture, strengthening communities

Beyond sewing, other initiatives focus on preserving Guatemala’s rich cultural heritage while fostering economic independence. In communities like Santa Apolonia, San Miguel Chicaj, and Santa Cruz La Laguna, with support from the Government of Canada, IOM is helping women artisans continue their ancestral weaving traditions.

In 2024, more than 200 women participated in vocational training programmes, financial literacy workshops, as well as in psychosocial and entrepreneurship initiatives. These efforts provide indigenous women with the tools needed to enter the labour market or start their own businesses.

Adela, a community leader in Santa Apolonia, has spent her life advocating for women’s empowerment. She remembers a time when the birth of a girl was met with disappointment. “When a boy was born, they would celebrate. When a girl was born, they would say, ‘Oh, it’s a girl.’ From birth, women are not given the same value,” she says.

For many indigenous and rural women in Guatemala, the burden of providing for their families falls entirely on them when male relatives migrate in search of work. This responsibility makes it nearly impossible for them to seek employment outside the home. To address this, IOM Guatemala has introduced training courses in tailoring, customer service, gastronomy, digital marketing, and financial education – skills that allow women to earn an income while working from home.

"We used to let people take advantage of our work because we didn't understand its value. Now we know what our work is worth," says Vilma, a weaver. Learning to price her handcrafted textiles fairly has given her the confidence to demand better pay for her intricate, time-consuming art. Each woven piece tells a story, incorporating colors and designs that represent regional identity. For the first time, she is seeing a real financial return for her craft.

With the right support, women like Ana Cecilia, Silvia, Francisca, Adela and Vilma, are proving that success does not have to mean leaving their country. Their achievements not only transform their own lives but also strengthen their communities and inspire future generations.

“To all women, I say: lift your heads. It doesn’t matter the difficulties, or what others say. What matters is that we feel good about ourselves and move forward,” Silvia states.

*Data from the National Institute of Statistics with the support of Latin American Demographic Center (CELADE) - Population Division of Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL, 2019).

This story was jointly written by Melisa Kljuca, IOM Guatemala Communications Officer, and Jonathan Mazariegos, IOM Guatemala Multimedia Officer.