Kara Deyhle

Spring 2005

Chiapas, Mexico

 

In 2005  Kara Deyhle, GIIP fellow, served a six month internship in Chiapas, Mexico where she worked with a grassroots, weaving cooperative run by indigenous weavers. Kara taught computer classes, worked on a digital product catalog and supported their efforts to create sustainable community development within the small, weaving communities. The two organizations that Kara worked with were Jolom Mayaeʼtik and Kinal Antzetik. Both groups are run and administered by women from communities around San Cristobal, Chiapas.

 

During her internship, Kara taught computer classes in basic computer navigation and software
programs as well as digital photography, email and Internet navigation. Most of her time was spent working on the digital catalog. In August, Kara and GIIP Coordinator, Rehan Iftikhar re-visited Chiapas to ensure the creation of a website for Jolom Mayaeʼtik.

 

Not only was Kara busy offering computer assistance to Jolom Mayaeʼtik and Kunal Antzetik, but Kara also spent her internship applying for grants in an effort to increase the publicity for the weaving cooperatives. Due to her hard work and perseverance, Kara was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Strauss Foundation for her project entitled “Creating Contact Across Borders”. With the scholarship money, Kara brought one representative from each organization on a speaking tour in the United States.