Woven Together

One of our many deserving partner organizations, the Maya Youth Artisan Initiative (MYAI), empowers young women in Yucatán, Mexico, to preserve and innovate the endangered heritage tradition of weaving henequén agave fiber on a backstrap loom.

Since August 2025, the Ibu Foundation has helped support MYAI’s intergenerational model in which young women were paired with elder master weavers to learn this endangered weaving tradition, in addition to modern entrepreneurship lessons.

To date, Ibu Foundation’s total investment of $20,000–

has covered curriculum development, a MYAI guidebook; a project coordinator, mentor and student stipends; looms, fibers, natural dyes, and tools; field trips and guest educators; and local transportation and community outreach.

Between 60–80 women and girls are positively impacted through this initiative and exponentially even more–from elder mentors and family members to community women who benefit from the revival of cultural identity, shared knowledge, and new pathways for economic empowerment.

Looking ahead, with continued funding, we hope to build on the prior success of MYAI and further the positive impact in the lives of young women in Yucatán, Mexico.