The Solon High School Spanish Culture Club is hosting a fundraiser through April 28 benefiting fair trade workers, sustainability and worker rights in Central America. The club will sell handmade bracelets, or pulseras, made by artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Olivia Chamberlain, senior and Spanish Culture Club president, said that she believes club members feel an obligation to make a difference for people in Spanish-speaking countries.

“We found the Pulsera Project through research on the internet for a project to support, because we believe it’s important to have an impact on the Spanish-speaking world.”

Sophomore club secretary Mason Barkett  agreed, and added that their fundraiser was unique from others in the SHS community.

“Our club thought it was important to participate in this because we recognized the poverty of these Spanish-speaking countries and we felt it was our duty to help assist these developing nations by raising funds to support them,” he said. “Plus, we thought that the pulseras were interesting and different compared to our school’s typical fundraisers and we hope to see a positive response.”

Sophomore vice president Matthew Grunzweig is hoping that the fundraiser will not only raise money and leave SHS students with a cool new accessory but also teach them a few lessons about privilege.  

“We hope that this fundraiser will teach students about how hard it is to find employment in underdeveloped countries,” Grunzweig said. “Each bracelet is handcrafted by people living in Central American countries. All of the funds raised by the project go directly back to the creators and serves as a way to promote personal financial stability and provides a sustainable income to families struggling to find jobs. We felt that the mission behind [the Pulsera Project] was important and would help out many people in Central America that are not living as prosperously as us.”

Barkett furthered that the Pulsera Project organization guarantees that the money Solon students are paying will not go to supporting the administration of the organization, as with many other charities, but will go directly to helping people.

“The Pulsera Project is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, so the money is not solely funding the organization,” Barkett said. “It funds sustainable fair trade jobs for our artists, housing programs, education for the youth and many more projects that assist these people. It is truly a blessing for many of these families.”

Barkett added that joining Spanish Culture club, in addition to supporting the fundraiser, can allow students to experience many new cultures while having a good time.

“We are a fun club that has monthly meetings to do crafts, eat delicious cultural food and spend time with friends– I highly recommend joining,” he said.

Students interested in joining SHS Spanish Culture Club  can check out Spanish Culture Club on Facebook, follow them on Instagram (@solonspanishclub), Snapchat (@solonscc) and join their email list at [email protected]. Students can also see Senora Swope in room 231.
Students can purchase pulseras for $5 during lunch periods. The club will also be selling a limited number of bolsitas, or handbags, for $10. SHS Spanish Culture Club encourages students to visit the Pulsera Project on their website to hear more about the difference this organization is making for artisans in impoverished Spanish speaking countries.