MdC’s women’s work program has launched a line of bags made in Mexico from recycled plastic.

We have exciting news.

For years, we have dreamed of starting a business that allows women from the community we serve to earn a fair wage without neglecting their families needs.

Our online store is the beginning of this dream becoming a reality.

A major part of MdC’s mission is to facilitate and implement programs that help refugees, migrant, and local populations living on the Mexico side of the US border live self-sufficiently, free from extreme poverty. This means having the financial independence to rebuild the lives that they want for themselves and their families.

Co-founders Jean Sicurella and Francisco Ortega display the very first batch of handwoven bags made by Aylin, the brainchild and driving force behind the bag program. Aylin is an internally displaced woman from Southern Mexico who moved to the US-Mexico border in search of safety from gang violence.

Although many of the women in this border community are incredibly resilient, they lack the resources that can help them achieve their goals. They face limitations because of low skill, limited education, and the lack of a support network in the community. Many of them also need to care for their children, which drastically impacts their work options.

This platform will give women in this community the opportunity chance to earn revenue through sales while working flexible hours.

Francisco Ortega and Jean Sicurella pose with Judith, a mother of 3 who is part of the women’s work program. Judith is also from a part of Mexico where gang violence and crime makes daily life difficult.

Visit Our Online Store

Each of our handwoven bags is personally handcrafted by a woman in our community.

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Our collection comes in a variety of colors and designs, reflecting the creativity of our artisans and versatility for every occasion. Made from recycled plastic, these bags are durable and easy to clean. Visit our store to browse our collection.

Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship

Misión de Caridad (MdC) strives for a world where women and children from refugee, migrant and local populations can live with dignity, with the means to meet their basic needs, which include food, housing, education, health, and safety. Unlike many organizations that focus on providing for those basic needs through a relief-based model, MdC focuses on eliminating poverty through an empowerment model.

Empowerment means that in addition to humanitarian relief, we implement holistic programs that lead to independence and self-sufficiency among those we serve.

Some of the primary ways to do this is through education, skill building, and job creation.

In just a few months, we have witnessed a transformation in the women in our work program. They are eager to learn and produce, faithfully attending every training session. They have started sharing their dreams of finishing their education, starting new businesses, and earning an income to fund their children's education. These remarkable women have the drive to achieve their goals and are starting to see the reality of creating a better life for themselves and their families.

This is an amazing testament to the power of empowerment and the relationships we have built in this community.

Read on to learn more about how this project began.

Aylin’s story

Aylin (previous referred to as Eileen on our blog) fled Southern Mexico with her elderly parents and baby because of gang violence several years before. They then settled at the US-Mexico border with hopes of opening a restaurant. However, their dreams were shattered by the pandemic and their savings quickly dried up.

When the team first met Aylin, she was doing her laundry manually by a busy road, while at work and also watching her toddler. Over the next few months, MdC supported Aylin by befriending her and providing for some of her basic needs. The team was always amazed at the materials Aylin would source that enabled her to construct a basic outdoor kitchen with running water and an indoor bathroom. So resourceful!

Eileen with the prototype she made to begin weaving bags out of recycled plastic.

One day, Aylin showed Francisco and Jean a prototype that she had constructed out of wood. "It's to weave a bag out of recycled plastic," she said. "If I can make bags, I think I can sell them."

She then told Francisco and Jean how she had recently taken a class on making bags and also taught herself how to make different styles and patterns by watching internet videos.

MdC funded the materials for Aylin's first 20 bags as she perfected how to make them, and then hired her to teach 20+ more women.

Jean and Aylin are pictured with Lidia (middle). Lidia is the oldest person attending MdC’s programs and her husband faithfully waits for her every Saturday. She never learned to read or write and it is a struggle to earn an income. Lidia is very excited to make bags and hopes to get her daughters involved.

Today Aylin is the force behind the bags at MdC's Women's Work Program as the lead trainer. She is supporting her family, learning valuable leadership skills and building self-confidence. She has not given up on her dream of continuing her education. It is her dream to study nutrition.

Life is not easy for Aylin, but she has found a strong support network among our MdC staff. MdC is committed to continue supporting her and her family.

Aylin teaches the women how to weave and attach the handles to the bag.

Thank You For Your Support

The women we are working with are full of hopes and dreams for the future. Already we are working on new product ideas and on expanding our online store. You can support this program by making a purchase here.

If you haven’t already visited our store, we hope you are raring to check it out!