Artisans Saving Lives making Face Masks from Home

Written by Francisco Cernada for the Dreamer Foundation



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Throughout the year, at least 12 million Mexicans support their households by selling their artisan goods. Even during tough times, they will sometimes trade their artisans goods for food. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these artisans can no longer work outside to sell their goods without facing the danger of potential contracting the coronavirus. Altogether, artisans make up to 10% of the population.

The Dreamer Foundation, a group of volunteers started with the goal of helping financially fund DACA applications for Dreamers or undocumented Latinx youth, has initiated the #ArtisansAtHome social media campaign to raise funds to enable Mexican artisan workers to stay at home during the pandemic. To help artisans work from home, the Dreamer Foundation is raising funds to buy hand-crafted masks from artisans to help them make money from home and we are donating these masks to the local community.

We pay artisans $25 Mexican pesos, or $1 US dollar per mask, and then donate the mask to a local family in need. Together, we can help continue allowing artisans to support their families while also allowing them to social distance.

To complement the initiative, we are donating food and encouraging the communities to share with our message “DONATE if you Can, TAKE if you Need”, while we secure and practice social distance in line. Due to the lack of information in the community, we also placed banners to inform COVID-19: Home Care & Precautions. 

Every dollar donated to this campaign goes straight to the artisans. All efforts organized by the Dreamer Foundation are completed by unpaid volunteers. We believe in the strict philosophy that all the money must go to those in the most need.

As of now, our efforts are centered in the community of Cherán Atzicuirín (Cheranástico), Michoacán, México and are looking to expand the program to other communities in the future.

For Transparency: Bank transactions will be Published including the signed forms provided to each leader where we show the following results:

1) Number of Face Masks Distributed 
2) Number of Artisans that we have helped 
3) Name of the Leader and Location 
4) Number of Volunteers 
5) Total amount donated of $25 or about $1 USD per face mask.
6) Signed Form by Artisan and Leader

***For transparency purposes, more information upon request***

Consulates and organizations supporting our initiative:
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights


Consulate of Mexico in Detroit

Catholic Connect

Consulate of Mexico in Chicago




Meet:
Artisan Making Face Masks
Volunteers Delivering Face Masks
Our First Alliance in Mexico

Currently we have 3 leaders volunteering and helping us coordinate our initiative: 

1.  Cherán Atzicuirín (Cheranástico), Michoacán - Eduardo Contreras, President of the Purépecha Jarhojpiti Civil Migrant Association - Our First Alliance

2. Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, Oaxaca - Alejandra Diego , volunteer at El Fondo Guadalupe Musalem A.C

3. Mitla, Oaxaca - Alejandra Olivera, volunteer at El Fondo Guadalupe Musalem A.C

*Dreamers Promoting the Initiative 
*Artisans Working from Home 
*Making Face Masks 
*Saving Lives 
* Boosting local Economy
*‍Volunteers distributing Face Masks
*Fighting COVID-19

Our Social Media
Instagram: @DreamerFoundation.us
Facebook: Facebook.com/DreamerFoundation.org
Email: [email redacted]