City of Querétaro
The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ have worked with indigenous women and their children in the program Embroidery Workshop in the center of the city of Queretaro since 2004, helping them to live a simple life with dignity. Using their abilities in cross stitch which they had learned as children in rural Mexico, the women, under the supervision of a Poor Handmaids, began making quality products to sell, in order to supplement the little they earn selling candies, and cigarettes on the street. With the help of the international congregation, friends and benefactors, we succeed in selling beautiful products (greeting cards, bookmarks, wall hangings, etc.) in several stores, at the Christmas bazaar and other places in Mexico, the United States and Germay. Since its foundation, the women have made more than 32,000 products.
Besides reading classes, the Poor Handmaid responsible organizes workshops to develop parenting skills. Thanks to the sense of confidence that has grown in the course of the years, many women share their family difficulties with the Sister. These situations need a variety of responses: accompany the women to the Human Rights Office, help them get into a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence, counselling that helps them strengthen their self-esteem. The number of women increases and decreases, but their growth in social skills and their generosity within the group are evident.