Woburn’s Kennedy Middle School Raises $20,000 to Support Central American Artisans

WOBURN — Since 2014, Kennedy Middle School has partnered with The Pulsera Project to raise funds to support artists living in Central America. 

The Pulsera Project is a nonprofit organization that educates, empowers, and connects Central American artists with students in more than 3,600 U.S. schools through the sale of colorful hand-woven bracelets, or “pulseras” in Spanish. 

The organization’s partnerships aim to brighten U.S. schools with art and compelling cultural education while employing Guatemalan and Nicaraguan artisans and investing proceeds to create lasting change in their communities. 

Over the course of the partnership, Kennedy Middle School has raised almost $20,000 in pulsera sales to be donated to Central American artisans, as well as fund scholarships, secondary education programs, human rights issues, environmental projects, youth shelters, and social enterprises.

The Pulsera Project sent Kennedy Middle School everything it needed to set up a pulsera sale, including a vibrant trifold photo display, informational and educational materials, videos, customizable posters, a few hundred pulseras, and some handwoven purses made by the organization’s artisan partners. 

Each pulsera comes tagged with the photo and signature of the artist who made it, making it easy for buyers to feel a connection to the people they’re supporting.

In recognition of Kennedy’s continued partnership and almost $20,000 raised, The Pulsera Project presented a banner to the school as a sign of gratitude and friendship.

The banner features a quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, which represents freedom. The colibrí, or hummingbirds, can be seen all around the village of T’zutujil and are said to be messengers of good wishes.

“It is a great honor to receive this,” said Principal Nelson, “but the true reward is all of the positive change that our partnership has yielded for those less fortunate than ourselves.”