2021: A year of unyielding determination
Since our founding, Creamos has existed to shift power back into the community within which we operate. Within our community, we believe that power is generated through the ability to determine one’s own future. Women living in the community surrounding the Guatemala City garbage dump face unimaginable obstacles that prevent them from achieving true self-determination. Throughout the past decade, Creamos has evolved into a collaboration of over 350 individuals who unapologetically challenge this status quo in pursuit of safer and healthier futures for their families. Their unyielding determination is the source of our motivation for making their goals a reality.
As a demonstration of their perseverance, Creamos participants dove into 2021 with a fine tuned adaptability, creativity, and tenacity to dismantle chronic barriers to opportunity. Over 115 adult learners remained diligent through distance learning; 140 women engaged in emotional support and therapy; and to top it off, our 50 artisans manufactured over 30,000 custom packaging bags, all while designing, producing, and launching the Creamos Color Collection. These successes are made possible through our supporters’ shared belief in our mission and willingness to propel community-driven change. The various forms of partnership and support that we encountered in 2021 is a true testament to our allies’ trust in us as an organization and the immense capacity of our participants. In speaking with Irina, one of our jewelry artisans, she expressed her gratitude, saying:
“[At Creamos,] I’ve had the opportunity to meet many people to whom I am very grateful because they believed in me. They don’t just believe in our program - they believe in us as people.”
As an organization, we remain committed to manifesting Irina’s sentiment by believing the lived experiences of our participants, deferring to local wisdom, and centering program design around participant-identified needs. As a demonstration of this commitment, Creamos hired four community members to our team this year in recognition of the reality that true change hinges upon local leadership. Beyond our walls, we forged relationships with neighboring nonprofits, coming together in innovative ways to share resources and promote a sense of collective action within the community surrounding the garbage dump.
We express gratitude to those who both initiated and re-established their allyship with us in 2021 and join us in a new year of igniting change within the Guatemala City garbage dump community.