Our History and General Purpose
Economically poor women in Juarez, Mexico have formed a sewing co-op in order to earn money to support their children.
Most live in hand made shacks near the city's garbage dump. These homes have nothing but love. There are no indoor water, electricity, or city services.
This "colonia" is not considered part of the city.
All of the residents have come from rural areas trying to get a job in the big city. They could not survive in their poor villages.
The cooperative is the only source of funds for these women.
It also serves as a place where they can get support from one another
and form a bond of friendship.
Their sewing skills are excellent. They ask for your help,
not through pity or a hand out,
but in purchasing their professional quallity hand made products.
The money raised is shared equally among every women in the co-op.
Some money is set aside for materials as needed.
History
Centro Santa Catalina is located in Ciudad Juarez, the Mexican City across the Rio Grande (International Border) from El Paso, Texas. It is situated in Colonia Panfilo Natera, a marginal colonia located on what was once the Juarez Municipal Garbage Dump. The people living in the Colonia Panfilo Natera and the surrounding colonias, for the most part, are newly migrated from the central parts of Mexico. They represent the "underside of globalization". They migrated to Juarez seeking jobs in International Factories called maquiladoras for minimal wages ranging from $3.70 a day to $5.00 a day. They live either in cardboard shacks or simple one to two room cinder block houses. They have no running water, no sewer system, no telephone lines and minimal garbage pick-up.
The Center was started as a Ministry Project initiated by two Adrian Dominican Sisters in response to their 1992 Vision Statements on Women and the Poor. After four years (1992-1996) of accompanying women in Colonia Panfilo Natera establishing relationships and participating with the women in a prayer group, the Sisters were invited to begin a Women's Center with the women. Central to the development of Centro Santa Catalina has been the women's desire to pray together and form a community of support, learn together, earn extra money so that their children can continue in school and assist their children in their educational needs. The mission of Centro Santa Catalina has consistently been centered on those articulated desires.
Within four and a half years, Centro Santa Catalina has grown into a humble Center for women, their families and for the developement of faith-based community. Programs for women's spiritual growth and development, popular education and educational activities for youngsters ages 3 - 12. The opportunity to participate in an Economic Cooperative are offered at the Center. All projects and programs of the Center are planned, developed and evaluated by the women involved.
Future
Many goals have already been realized at Centro Santa Catalina.
A community building and education system have been the most significant achievements.
The support of one another in faith and community is key to the empowerment experienced by the women at the Center. The women build community as they gather in prayer, work in the cooperative and host visitors. They plan, make decisions and share their faith, their reality and gifts with each other and all with who they come in contact. This has empowered them to know their potential as women, wives, mothers and friends.
The programs offered at Centro Santa Catalina have contributed to the women's self-esteem, self-knowledge and most especially self-determination to be all that God is calling them to be.
The women themselves have begun to secure the sustainability of the cooperative by willingly contributing $5 per month to a savings fund for future needs. This may seem like a minimal effort however it is all that they can afford.
Future ability to continue to produce a quality product for the cooperative may result in a long term, low interest loan. Centro Santa Catalina is looking into a three year strategic plan to view its ability to grow in the future.
Truly they are Women of Hope and Faith
