The Australian Embassy in Mexico, led by Her Excellency Ambassador Rachel Moseley, made an official visit to the communities of San Felipe Cuapexco, Cohuecan, and Acteopan, Puebla, to witness firsthand the results of the program “Circle of Women Made of Clay”, promoted by Pure Earth Mexico and supported by the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Program for the 2024–2025 period.
Thanks to this support, seven kilns were upgraded—three in Acteopan and three in Cohuecan—with technology suitable for the use of lead-free glazes, thereby improving the productive conditions and health of dozens of pottery-making families. In addition to the technical intervention, the project included comprehensive training workshops for women and men potters, focused on the safe use of lead-free materials and design innovation.
During the visit, Ambassador Moseley expressed her recognition of the communities’ commitment to transforming their ancestral craft into a safer and more competitive practice. “It is inspiring to see how women and pottery families are leading this change toward responsible production, safeguarding their health and that of their communities,” she said.
Agustín Gama, Director of the Pure Earth Mexico Office, highlighted the importance of this type of collaboration: “This project demonstrates that it is possible to preserve our traditions without putting the health of our communities at risk. We are deeply grateful to the Australian Embassy for believing in this model, which not only empowers women potters but also protects future generations from the effects of lead. This is environmental justice and equity in action.”
The visiting delegation also included Daniel Farfán, Program Director at The Americas Research Network and President of the Ibero-American Handicrafts Council (iberoarte), as well as professors Marcela Duarte and Mariana De la Rosa from the Department of Art, Design, and Architecture at the Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla.
Agustín Gama, Director of the Pure Earth Mexico Office, and Carmina Jure, Director of Fundraising and Institutional Development, together with the beneficiary artisans, guided the visitors through the workshops and shared testimonies about how this project has marked a turning point in their lives, allowing them to preserve their cultural heritage without putting their health or that of their children at risk.
Since its implementation, the Circle of Women Made of Clay program has proven to be a replicable model that promotes environmental justice, the empowerment of rural women, and the progressive elimination of lead in traditional Mexican pottery—one of the main sources of childhood heavy metal poisoning in the country. Pure Earth Mexico deeply appreciates the trust and support of the Government of Australia through its Embassy, and reaffirms its commitment to continue working together with communities, local authorities, and international partners to build a lead-free Mexico, where tradition and health can go hand in hand.
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