My name is Vittoria, I’m from Italy and I have a degree in Architecture and International Cooperation. I began my experience at Trama Textiles in November 2024 and volunteered with the cooperative for a month. I chose to volunteer at Trama because I was very fascinated by the history and philosophy of the cooperative, as well as the impact it has on the women who work there.
My experience at Trama has been extremely positive, as the environment created by Maria, the manager and coordinator, is very pleasant, interesting, and stimulating. Maria has the ability to select and form cohesive and united teams. Thanks to volunteering at the cooperative, I had the opportunity to meet wonderful women with great ideas and a strong drive to make things happen. The working style at Trama is very democratic and reflects the philosophy of a true cooperative. Volunteers are encouraged to take initiative and propose and implement new ideas.
During my time there, I took care of and organized several events aimed at fundraising for the families of the artisans working for Trama. This also included managing the communication and promotion of these events through social media. Managing this part of the cooperative definitely improved my knowledge of Spanish and my understanding of how to create, organize, and promote different events.
Volunteering at Trama is very engaging and interesting, both for understanding Guatemalan culture and for being closer to the people, as well as for learning new skills and understanding how a cooperative works. Additionally, it offers the chance to learn about the various materials and artisanal products of Guatemala, the processes, and production methods. Beyond the volunteering work, Maria involves volunteers in different initiatives and activities that are incredibly useful for personal growth and for getting closer to the local culture and conditions.
If you are interested in having an experience at Trama Textiles, I would definitely recommend spending at least a month there, as the work offered is very interesting, and being involved in the different aspects of the cooperative is an extremely formative experience, regardless of your personal background.