Good Foundations International
(formerly Potters for Peace)
About Potters For Peace
Potters for Peace is a non-profit, social justice organization focused on using clay based solutions to address the problems of poverty. Potters for Peace's model is based upon community-oriented planning and action. We eschew the project-oriented view of traditional charities in favor of a relationship-based, sustainable model.
In Nicaragua, Potters for Peace offers technical and business support to rural pottery cooperatives. Our relationships with these communities have developed into partnerships where our desire is to nurture their growth, both artistically and personally, and to provide on-going sustainable business support.
Potters for Peace believes access to clean, potable water is a human right. Through our ceramic water filter projects, we provide technical support, education and filter production set-up for communities worldwide. We continue to find new solutions through our research and development as well as offer hands-on training through annual filter courses.
Potters for Peace values:
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Peace, not Conflict
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Social Justice, not Oppression
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Personal Empowerment, not Dependency
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Economic Independence, not Poverty
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Self-Sufficiency, not Charity
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Clean Water, not Disease
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Community Accompaniment, not Short-term Projects
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Sustainability, not Environmental Destruction
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Clean Water is a Human Right
Potters for Peace believes in:
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The power of the individual to change her life
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The power of the individual to change the system
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The power of cooperation (working together).
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The power of Cultural Traditions
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Love
OUR MISSION IS TWO-FOLD
​Potters for Peace offers support, solidarity and friendship to Nicaraguan potters in order to help them preserve their local traditions and become economically independent. The vast majority of potters in Nicaragua are rural women who benefit from business education, collaboration with other potters and access to tools, equipment and technical advice.
Potters for Peace works with partners around the world to help bring access to clean drinking water to the poorest of the poor - in keeping with our belief that clean water is a human right. As potters, we have gained the necessary skills to create ceramic water filters. We make filters that can block as much as 99.88% of the bacteria from contaminated drinking water. Our mission is to share this knowledge by training our partners to make filters in their own local sustainable micro-enterprise. We do this by offering on-the ground assistance with filter factory set-ups world-wide, as well as two-week, hands-on ceramic water filter training courses, and free online technical consultations.
BRIGADES - WORK TRIPS
Potters for Peace hosts brigades to various countries to facilitate cultural exchanges between potters and people interested in ceramic water filters. Participants visit and work with crafts persons in their potteries. Brigadistas will learn about the culture and ceramic traditions of their new clay friends, and will be confronted with the realities of being a potter in the developing world. When possible, we visit filter factories to gain first-hand knowledge of how filters are made and the impact clean drinking water can have on people's lives. These two-week tours include “off the tourist track” views of the host country, with translation, accommodations, food, and in-country transportation provided.
Additionally, at least once a year, we offer a shorter “work brigade” experiences in which we spend an extended period of time in a community, focusing on large projects such as building kilns and kiln sheds, and helping at factories.
For our next scheduled brigade, please contact Jennifer Mally at:
executivedirector@pottersforpeace.org
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