By: Fatuma Hilowle, Reporter
OMAHA, Neb.- The Pulsera Project began in 2009 when a group of friends traveling in Central America discovered a community of artists in Nicaragua. Two UNO Seniors shine light on what the project is and why it is important to support artisans.
UNO Senior and Latino Leader, Gustavo Servin-Maciel said selling the pulsars at the Milo Bail Student Center fuses Omaha and Central American art together.
“I am here helping out with the Pulsera Project for the association Latino American Students and basically what the Pulsera Project is, is a sale where we sell handmade bracelets, bags, and headbands and they are all made by Nicaraguan and Guatemalan artists and 100 percent of these proceeds go back to a non-profit to help them with their education, housing, employment and things of that nature,” said Servin-Maciel.
“For me, the Pulsera Project represents a way for me to help out my people– the people of Latin America,” he said.
The Pulsera Project employs nearly 200 artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala with fair trade jobs. Nearly 13 years later and the project is planning to bring even more light to the artisans.
UNO Senior Noor Kanunde says financially supporting non-profits, like the Pulsera Project, makes him feel like he’s helping make a change in the lives of others.
“Today I’ll be purchasing this beautiful handbag and a bracelet. I’m doing this because I like to see different cultures, get a little bit of a different experience with stuff at UNO,” said Kanunde. “It makes me really happy when I come out and see an exhibit like this— so, stuff that I didn’t not know about,” he said.
Pulsera sales fund scholarships, healthcare, housing, secondary education, social enterprise, youth empowerment, and other programs that we seek out in collaboration with leaders & communities in Central America.
While the Pulsera Project sale at UNO is done, students and staff can still make purchases through the office of Latino Studies.
