Accomplishments
- Alternativa, a newly formed private Salvadorian NGO social enterprise for artisan enterprises, is officially open. It has two arms, one for commerce and the other for services to artisans.
- Salvadoran artisans generated $3.06 Million sales to retailers in the US, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.
- Agreements were negotiated with 56 U.S. and European importers who placed regular orders of quality craft product.
- Nearly 5,000 new jobs (4,982) were generated through the market expansion programs.
- One-on-one training in production management, design, and export marketing was provided to 1,846 artisans, with intensive mentoring for 63 selected artisans in marketing techniques.
- Altogether 3580 new products were designed through the programs.
- 134 training workshops were sponsored on production efficiency, quality control and design, benefiting 4,993 enterprises.
- 6 international design consultancies, 9 buyer missions and 6 sales missions in Central America and the Caribbean were arranged and the programs helped Salvadoran artisans take part in major international trade shows.
- Local sales, 51% of total sales, have been successful with products from the program have been featured in a two-week celebration in San Salvador’s most prestigious home furnishing mall, Siman.
- Among the 100-plus partners in the program was an innovative project that works with former gang members to provide employment alternatives to discourage them from turning to organized crime.
Contributors
ATA would like to thank the following organizations for providing funding
for efforts in El Savador:
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
The Government of El Salvador
Comisión Nacional de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa (CONAMYPE)
