La Pulsera teaches service learning to BHS

Spanish club selling bracelets, handbags crafted by artisans from Nicaragua, Guatemala
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

Helping your own community can be a good thing, but helping communities thousands of miles away can provide even more benefits through service learning.

Bonduel High School’s Spanish club is finding that out firsthand through involvement in the La Pulsera Project during the month of January. Local students will be selling bracelets and handbags made by artisans from Nicaragua and Guatemala, and that money will go back to their communities to further empower the Central American artists.

“We were searching online for ways to give back to the Spanish-speaking world,” said Bobbi Jo Martenson, a co-adviser for the club. “We just happened upon this project and found out that is was something awesome that our students could participate in, because none of the funds stay with us here in Bonduel. Everything goes back to Nicaragua and Guatemala, so we thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for our students.”

Whitney Ness, the club’s other adviser, noted that school districts all across the country are involved with the program, which features the handmade bracelets and handbags and showcases the artisans who make them. She said it feels good to help others raise money for positive endeavors.

“The cool part for me is that every single one has a tag attached with a picture of the person who made it, signature from the person who made it and a little background story,” Ness said. “We really like that they use the money for nonprofit purposes. They put it toward community programs — toward scholarships, shelters down there, all kinds of stuff like that. I think that is a good example we’re setting up for the students.”

According to La Pulsera’s website, more than $5 million has been raised since 2009 with the help of more than 3,000 schools like Bonduel. Ness noted that the boxes they receive not only have the items to sell but also a little background on some of the other schools involved in the work.

“It’s kind of like the idea of all these things traveling around the world — just being a part of that is really neat,” Ness said.

Bonduel has a history with the program, bringing it up every three or four years to work with a new group of high school students.

“We’ve done this a couple of times in the past,” said Ness, noting that the school raised over $2,000 for La Pulsera on their last go-around. “Last time, I was blown away by how much we made. I don’t know what our goal would be this year.”

“It’s kind of fun, because some of our elementary students who first purchased purses when they were younger are now in high school heading this up, so they remember buying when they were younger,” Martenson added.

All of the items are woven, with some of them beaded, with an occasional leather bracelet thrown into the mix. Mortenson noted that many of the items have “amazing, beautiful colors,” with Ness adding that they’re “nothing we could ever produce, for sure.”

Ness and Mortenson noted that it’s not surprising that Bonduel students continue to want to participate in the program.

“I feel like Bonduel is always good about giving back, no matter what situation we’ve got,” Ness said. “A lot of the different activities we do in the club is to give back, raise funds or do things for other people. Especially at the high school, you’re trying to mold these kids into good, well-rounded people.”

Ness added that this also gives the community a cultural lesson, as the students can explain to those wanting to purchase items about the countries where they came from.

“I think that’s valuable,” Ness said.

The Spanish club will be selling items at all of the schools through Jan. 27. Bracelets cost $7 each, while the bags are $15. The club will also be selling La Pulsera products at the Bonduel boys basketball game on Jan. 20.


lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com