Meet Annie Jameson | Eden International Founder and President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annie Jameson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annie, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 2017, I traveled to Guatemala and became friends with a local Guatemalan (Rodolfo) who shared my dream to create opportunities for employment and socialization for disabled adults. During my career as a special education teacher, I had become passionate about post-education opportunities for young adults with disabilities, many of whom struggle with isolation and depression. In Guatemala, this problem is especially serious because many people with disabilities live without leaving their houses due to lack of access to transportation or buildings, lack of governmental support, lack of education, and lack of job opportunities. So, my partner and I decided to launch a business that would allow disabled people to work according to their own skills and timelines, by making organic wellness products. We wanted to create entrepreneurial work for disabled adults, rather than trying to find jobs that would require them to assimilate to neurotypical norms. Now, we sell the Eden products on behalf of the workers, and we’re able to ensure that they are earning far more than the local minimum wage. We dreamed of running a center in Guatemala that would educate people with disabilities and their families, provide sustainable and flexible work opportunities, and foster regular socialization in the community! We’re still on the way towards our original dreams, but it’s been a beautiful ride so far!
 

What should our readers know about your business?
Eden International is a not-for-profit organization (501c3) that employs adults with disabilities in Guatemala. They work and socialize in a beautiful day center with their friends and coworkers, and they also frequently lead community workshops. The participants handcraft organic, recyclable products with essential oils and beeswax. Eden’s products are unique and well respected in the Guatemalan market, and Eden is the only regional organization employing workers with disabilities, who are often marginalized from society. This is why we say, “Personal wellness for the collective good,” as our tag line. I’m so proud to see how Eden is representing disabled individuals in their full complexity in the community, But, I’m most proud to see how dramatically Eden’s participants have changed their family and community dynamics. We’ve seen families change their perspectives around their disabled family members from shame or resentment into pride and gratitude. Our disabled participants have taken on leadership positions in their families and communities, giving back economically and taking on more responsibilities, and the ripple effects are lifechanging for so many people. For me, it’s a great honor to witness these transformations and see the impact of inclusion, belonging, and a celebration of neurodiversity.

Our progress has definitely come with setbacks! We’ve had to learn how to be discerning with the providers that we collaborate with. This is a skill, or a caution, that we’ll always be developing. But, it’s been a shock from our naivety to learn that many vendors are overselling products with poor quality. But, entering the business world as complete newbies has required that we have a fast and steep learning curve! And that challenge has been an incredible gift to our own growth in confidence, self-trust, and communication. And, in terms of communication, it has also been a challenge and a gift to learn how to improve our communication with our collaborators, retail partners, clients, and donors! When we started this work, we had a very individualistic perspective, and we thought that we could simply produce, sell, and distribute products our own. But thankfully, we’ve learned that this is collective work! We rely on so many other people in the community for networking, guidance, wisdom, emotional support, and financial support! We’ve learned that a social enterprise and organization offers everyone in the community a chance to mutually support each other with exchanges of expertise and resources – we all help each other grow in purpose and impact!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Eden is based in Antigua, Guatemala! Antigua is a gorgeous colonial town from the 1500s nestled under active volcanoes. The city is alive and popping amidst the ruins of churches and monasteries, and it’s a breathtaking place to visit. I’d love to invite you to visit!

In your weeklong visit, I’d invite you to brunch at a local farm-to-table restaurant, and while we sat and chatted next to the fields and flowers, we’d plan the week! I’d suggest that we hike one of the volcanoes for a day. Then, I’d suggest that we visit the ruins of a nearby Mayan city, Iximche. Of course, we would take a day to explore Antigua and visit viewpoints and our favorite restaurants, like Angie Angie’s! We’d take a tour to make our own jade jewelry, and we’d take a Guatemalan cooking class. And of course, we’d finish our week of adventures by touring Eden and meeting all of the participants with disabilities who are leading community change!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! In our work creating a business and organization to support disabled workers in Guatemala, we’ve been incredibly supported ourselves! My sister has been an absolute rock and cheerleader to me over the years. Our Board of Directors, especially Chase, have been amazing leaders, generous donors, and creative problem solvers! And, I’m incredibly grateful to all of the individuals that have consistently donated to Eden over the past four years, making our work possible! Also, in 2021, we were awarded a space in business classes in Guatemala – with Crece Tu Empresa and Alterna. These classes were a real blessing, since my partner and I started without any business training! We’ve come a long way because of the long lasting support, encouragement, wisdom, and help from our network! It is such a privilege to work collectively, alongside our Guatemalan and American communities, receiving a diverse range of support!

Website: www.edenguatemala.com

Instagram: @eden_porsalud

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EdenPorSalud

Other: Email us to stay in touch and join our monthly newsletter! We’d love to have you in our community! info@edenporsalud.org