Sequim Gazette staff

With a little help from their peninsula friends, Mujeres de Maiz en Resistencia Cooperative is still going strong.

The self-help indigenous women’s collective, based in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, is now in its seventh year of lifting out of poverty women living throughout the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Their tools are hard work and a devotion to education.

The peninsula women are board members of Mujeres de Maíz Opportunity Foundation, formed seven years ago to provide educational and other assistance to the Mexican women. That has meant everything from toothbrushes to computers.

In December 2010, the foundation started a capital campaign to help the cooperative purchase a facility to serve as a center for workshops and as a place where students could stay while studying in San Cristobal.

Unfortunately, structural problems were found in the chosen building and the purchase was dropped.

Since then a small plot of land close to the historical center of the city has been found.

Earlier donations were put into escrow. Those funds, and additional funds now being sought, will be used to help purchase the property.

The women plan to build a “green” facility using recycled materials when possible.

Once the new structure is designed, the foundation members anticipate they will begin fundraising again for its construction.

They’re also considering organizing work parties to help build it.

For more information, call 683-8979.