I have some exciting news to share: I’ve decided to get my master’s in Sustainable Development.
I’m excited and nervous for this next step. Berry’s mostly just excited for the snow.
These are the two reactions I’ve been getting about the news:
- “That’s wonderful!”
- “What’s that?”
To all the encouraging people in my life, thank you. I’ve been nervous about taking this step, but it will give me more tools to be able to work with artisan communities effectively. After all, Kakaw Designs has always been a development-inspired social business.
And to those of you who have no idea what this Sustainable Development thing is, let me tell you. It’s the study of development for countries, and how to merge economic, environmental, and social aspects. How to find a common happy ground, for all three aspects of growth. Needless to say, I’m interested in focusing on developing countries, as well as artisan communities, indigenous areas, and foreign aid / non-profit models (or rather, how to make these models more efficient).
I’m excited to get back into the academic world and delve into some of these questions that have been circling in my head.
Sustainable Development for small villages
What does that mean for Kakaw Designs?
Don’t worry, I’m in the process of training people to take over production and logistics in Guatemala. Some of the artisans will take on additional responsibilities, others will be continued by me online, and I have a great person lined up as the Production Manager. <<More on that soon!>> And we’ll continue fulfilling online orders from the US as we have been doing. We’ll also continue to take custom-orders, which have been really fun. So really, there’s nothing to worry about.
I’ll be gone for two years, mostly in Europe. But I will be back in Guatemala for visits, and am working on a smooth transition to keep the business going as usual. I really contemplated what the best thing to do was – to take a pause and refresh in two years, or try to keep the business steady during my absence. And in the end, it just seemed like a waste to lose the momentum we’ve gained, and the idea is always to keep production going so that the artisans have work – that’s our mission, after all: supporting talented artisans and their traditions in Guatemala.
Exciting times are ahead! Thank you for all your support.
XOXO,
Mari
Kakaw Designs 