Old Soul Doll Co.

As vast as our planet is, as impossible as our shared problems sometimes feel, the truth remains that if your heart is open at the moment you discover the face of someone who is new to you - someone who may look and sound profoundly different - you find yourself looking into a mirror.

On November 5, 2008, America woke up to find itself in such a world. It was on this morning that men, women and children from all over the globe spontaneously celebrated the election of a new president, and Americans were reminded that the people of the world are our brothers and sisters, and are, in their hearts, Americans, too.

In a village in the Highlands of Guatemala, there is a group of women who have come together to create an expression of this world celebration. Guided by the artistic vision of American folk artist Shari Enge, the women of Ixoqi have created an Uncle Sam figure to commemorate the historic inauguration of Barak Obama as America’s 44th president.

Ixoqi (ee-sho-kee) is an Education Center for the Working Woman that was founded six years ago with funding from the Foundation for Comprehensive Development. The current facility was built with the financial assistance of the government of Belgium. The center continues to thrive with limited funding from world organizations that are dedicated to bringing sustainability and economic development to underserved communities. Ixoqi’s training and production facilities are located in a pastoral mountain area that is finally recovering after 30 years of civil war that ended in the mid-1990’s. Classes and real-world experience are provided in baking, confectionary training, comprehensive sewing skills (including traditional knitting, weaving and commercial design), canning of native fruits and vegetables, traditional candy making, financial management, and community development.

Once a woman at the Center has mastered a particular craft or trade, along with her new business skills, she has earned the opportunity to work for a fair wage on one of the numerous projects that is available to her through Ixoqi. The participants range from being illiterate to having attended a few years of elementary school. They come from extreme poverty in communities with scarce access to transportation, health facilities and jobs. Whereas in the past it has been difficult for women in this area to obtain an education, the special training they receive at Ixoqi allows them the opportunity to earn income, bring long-term sustainability, and send their own children to school, breaking this traditional cycle of limited education.

Producing appealing products is essential for the continuation of organizations like Ixoqi whose goal is to provide these culturally rich areas with new sources of income while maintaining their unique craft traditions. The Old Soul Doll Company is committed to our relationship of collaboration and warm respect with this dedicated group of women who call their corner of the world The Soul of the Earth.