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Guatemalan Administrative Committee
UPAVIM Crafts is run by six women in La Esperanza, Guatemala. They oversee every-day operations, maintain quality control, manage finances, and collaborate with our U.S. designers to create new, contemporary products.
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Angela - Administrator of Crafts
Angela is a founding member of UPAVIM and has been a central leader of the cooperative since its earliest days. Over the years, she has held nearly every role within the organization, including serving multiple terms as President, giving her a deep and comprehensive understanding of UPAVIM’s mission, operations, and artisan community.
In her current role as Administrator of Crafts, Angela oversees production across UPAVIM’s artisan teams, coordinating pricing, timelines, quality standards, and product development. She works closely with artisans and leadership to ensure that each product reflects the cooperative’s values while supporting stable, dignified work for its members.
Angela’s long-standing commitment, leadership, and care for the women of UPAVIM have been instrumental in shaping the organization into what it is today. Her experience and vision continue to guide UPAVIM’s growth while honoring its roots as a women-led cooperative.
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 Sonia - Production Director
Sonia has been an essential part of UPAVIM for many years. As Production Manager, she oversees the preparation and coordination of all raw materials used across UPAVIM’s craft production. Her work includes ordering fabrics, managing inventory, and preparing fabric cuts, zippers, tags, and other components so that each artisan has exactly what they need to complete their products.
Sonia’s careful planning and attention to detail ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across the cooperative’s handmade goods. By organizing materials in advance, she plays a critical role in keeping production running smoothly—doing it all with jokes, warmth, and a smile that lifts everyone around her.
UPAVIM is also deeply woven into Sonia’s family life. Her children and grandchildren have attended or currently attend UPAVIM’s educational programs, and her daughters are also members of the cooperative. This multi-generational connection reflects Sonia’s long-term commitment to UPAVIM and her belief in its mission as a place of opportunity, community, and support.
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Gloria - Shipment Coordinator
Gloria is UPAVIM’s Export and Warehouse Manager, responsible for final quality control, packing, labeling, and preparing all orders for shipment. Nearly every UPAVIM product passes through her hands before leaving the warehouse, ensuring each order is complete, carefully packaged, and ready to ship. She also manages product tags and tracks warehouse inventory in the U.S.
Gloria has been part of UPAVIM for more than 20 years. She joined when her children were young, and over the years UPAVIM has been a vital source of stability, strength, and economic opportunity in her life. She takes great pride in her work and enjoys staying active—especially when orders are busy.
In addition to her role in crafts and export, Gloria participates in UPAVIM’s community programs, including the scholarship program that supports children in the surrounding neighborhood. For Gloria, UPAVIM is more than a workplace—it is a community that has supported her and her family for decades.
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Elsa - Product Quality Control Manager
She began her journey learning to do crafts, and eventually sewing. In 2020, Elsa started working in quality control, where she reviews every product from each co-worker, looking for ways to continue learning as much as she can from them. She is grateful for UPAVIM's support, which has allowed her to provide for her family and ensure that her children receive a good education. Her oldest daughter, who is now 30, also works at UPAVIM. Elsa sees UPAVIM as her second home, a place where she can share her joys and sorrows with her colleagues and find the support she needs to keep fighting for a better life. "Upavim has helped me a lot," Elsa says. "I have a lot of good things to say about UPAVIM."
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 Cristina - Product Designer
Cristina is one of the newer members of UPAVIM compared to her colleagues. She began her journey at UPAVIM as a seamstress and, through dedication and skill, worked her way into her current role as Product Designer.
Cristina creates the first samples of all new products and plays a key role in calculating production costs and labor rates, helping ensure designs are both beautiful and sustainable. As a mother and grandmother, she has benefited from UPAVIM’s steady income and supportive environment, which has strengthened her confidence and self-esteem. Her work reflects both her creativity and her growth within the cooperative.
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