The Pulsera Project is a nonprofit organization that educates, empowers, and connects Central American artists with students in more than 3,600 U.S. schools through the sale of colorful handwoven bracelets, or "pulseras" in Spanish.
We brighten U.S. schools with art and compelling cultural education while employing Guatemalan & Nicaraguan artisans and investing proceeds to create lasting change in their communities.
Explore our site to discover why students and teachers have spread the Pulsera Project from a single classroom to over 3,600 schools in all 50 states, coloring hallways and classrooms with beautiful Central American art and awareness of social justice issues.
The Pulsera Project Has Three Main Components:
The Pulsera Project employs over 200 artisans in Central America with well-paying Fair Trade Jobs, providing positive & uplifting work in countries with high unemployment and frequently tough working conditions.
Through pulsera sales in U.S. Schools, The Pulsera Project provides students with a unique cultural education experience, allowing them to bring the beauty of Latin American culture to life in their own classrooms and hallways.
Proceeds from Pulsera sales are invested in Central American communities. We work side-by-side with community leaders to find high-impact investments that empower people with the skills to take control of their lives.
Since 2009, Pulsera Project volunteers have raised more than $6,000,000 through pulsera sales to create jobs, empower Central American communities, and provide engaging educational programs in the U.S. and Central America.
Our projects bridge cultures, bring people together, and color the world with beauty and awareness. Here are just a few of the many projects supported & funded by U.S. students and Central American artists:
On top of creating Fair Trade jobs for hundreds of artisans over the years, pulsera sale proceeds have been invested in a wide range of social impact programs as well. Pulsera sales fund things like artisan housing programs, secondary education, university scholarships, humanitarian medical aid, disability advocacy, workers' rights initiatives, community radio, women & youth leadership programs, domestic violence shelter support, legal services, social enterprise seed funding, educational films, permaculture projects, and much more.
Pulsera sales give students a chance to learn about the realities of life in Latin America while opening their hearts and minds to the uplifting, colorful side of Nicaraguan & Guatemalan culture.
Through our wide range of free Spanish educational materials, we give students a window into the lives of pulsera artists and the people who benefit from funds raised through their pulsera sale.
During pulsera sales we also encourage students to look at service in a new light. In meaningful cultural exchange, we seek to discover the best of our partners, educate ourselves about their lives and values, and hopefully enrich each other's lives with the best of who we are.
We believe that we have much to learn from those with fewer financial resources than ourselves, especially when it comes to living a simple and fulfilling life where human relationships and respect for the environment take precedent.
In addition to making good wages that support themselves and their families, artists are also able to set their own hours, work from home while spending time with their children, and take pride in sharing their artwork with people thousands of miles away. Artists benefit as well from healthcare, housing programs, scholarships, and more.
For many pulsera artists, weaving pulseras began as a hobby in their youth. For others, the native art was passed down from previous generations. For all, pulsera weaving remains central to the stories of their lives –stories that they gladly share through Pulsera Project films and writings - stories that enrich our understanding of the world.
Each pulsera takes about an hour to make, comes tagged with the picture and signature of the artist, and is woven with the rich personal history of the person who made it. When you wear a pulsera, you not only share the voice of a Central American artist, but you also raise your own voice, speaking out for opportunity, unity, and a more equal and colorful world.
The Pulsera Project is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated!