If you've followed us on Facebook or Instagram, over time you have had the opportunity to see many photos of the members of the cooperative, in groups as well as individually. Chances are, if we asked if you’ve seen Delfina before – you would probably say no. It’s always harder to remember names when you haven’t actually met in person. But if we said, do you remember seeing photos of the beautiful woman that is always smiling? Not just a contented look on her face but an infectious smile in nearly every photo that is taken of her? The kind of smile that makes you break out into a smile yourself…that’s Delfina!
Delfina has been with the cooperative for 12 years now – since the beginning. She joined the group during the community planning sessions, from which the weaving cooperative grew.
Before Mayamam Weavers, Delfina never had a job earning money. She would work with her family in the fields and she worked in her house. Now she says she feels much better because she has money for her expenses. She also enjoys that she gets to share her days working with friends and family. Delfina has three grown children between the ages of 23 and 34 years old. Living alone as Delfina does can be quite lonely when you don’t have anyone to eat dinner with.
When Delfina was a child, she only went to school for two years. She struggled with completing homework and then stopped attending school knowing how strict the punishments were for incomplete homework. Whoever didn’t do their homework was hit on their fingernails with a ruler. Now, as an adult, she is studying to earn her 6th grade diploma. According to Delfina, studying with the group has really helped her. “Now, I already can point to what time I enter and leave work. I can read better and when the other weavers take notes, I can read them.” These are valuable skills that literate people take for granted every day. She has also learned to add, subtract, and apply these skills to the products she makes at work. Before, she had to always search for people to point to the hours and the jobs. Now, she feels more independent because she can do it all on her own.
Delfina is a talented foot loom weaver. After creating her own weaving design, she now has a pattern named after her! In our Women’s Wraps lines, our Cobalt & Magenta Wrap, Champagne & Rose Pink Wrap, Lime & Violet Wrap and Rust & Emerald Wrap are all handwoven on the foot loom using Delfina’s pattern.
Known for always being patient and kind, Delfina said she would like to learn to read faster than she does now so she can understand what she is reading. She also wants to learn to speak Spanish better. Sometimes, when visitors come and ask her questions in Spanish, she has difficulty understanding so they end up turning to her coworkers.
Keep following that smile!
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