"Art is a meeting place where there are no strangers"
Brother Thomas Bezanson

Those in Need

AIDG Pottery is committed to helping our sisters, brothers and world community. We do this by donating to fundraisers, selling Nicaraguan wares from our shop, forwarding the proceeds from the sales to the people of Nicaragua, and collaborating with other businesses and individuals.

Together we make our local community and world community a better place for all.

The Colectiva

In 1998, a portion of Central America was destroyed by Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest and most powerful hurricanes on record in the Atlantic Basin. Hearing of the devastation, the Interfaith Committee on Latin American of St. Louis decided to collaborate with a village in need and help them recover, and so, IFCLA began its relationship with the People of Rio Abajo, Nicaragua. In 2000, I joined IFCLA and was part of a delegation that visited the people of Rio Abajo. This was the fourth visit of IFCLA to this tiny village that was destroyed by Hurricane Mitch.

In the beginning…

In 2000, I joined the Interfaith Committee on Latin America and was a part of a delegation that visited the people of Rio Abajo, Nicaragua. This was the fourth visit of IFCLA to this tiny village that was destroyed in 1998 by Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest and most powerful hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin.

Hearing of the devastation, IFLCA decided to collaborate with a village in need and help them recover, and so, the St. Louis IFLCA began its relationship with the People of Rio Abajo. In the beginning frequent visits were needed in order to assess needs and to help the community raise money for houses, a school, and farm land in order to sustain their families. The women of Rio Abajo were beginning to organize a women's collective (La Colectiva) in order to raise money. As a potter, I went to assess the needs of the potters in the women's collective. Together with IFCLA and Potters for Peace the collective is now flourishing.

Thanks to the generosity of St. Louisans, Rio Abajo has new cinder block houses, a building to house the Colectiva, a new school building, a pump for clean water, and a market for their ceramics and hand sewn items.

AIDG Pottery supports the people of Rio Abajo and Nicaragua by selling their wares in our shop. Come and support their communities with your purchases.

Thank You,
Sr. Lisa