Potters for Peace

About us

Potters for Peace is a U.S. based nonprofit, a network of potters, educators, technicians, supporters, and volunteers. Founded in Nicaragua in 1986, we work with clay artisans in Central America and worldwide on ceramic water purification projects. The base for PFP’s pottery activity is Nicaragua with occasional involvement in neighbour-countries.

PFP is a unique organization devoted to socially responsible development and grass roots accompaniment among potters.

Our goals are to offer support, solidarity and friendship to developing world potters; to assist with appropriate technologies sustained using local skills and materials; to help preserve cultural traditions; and to assist in marketing locally, regionally and internationally. The vast majority of potters in Central America are rural women and the core work for Potters for Peace has always been assisting these hard-working people to earn a better living.

We encourage these potters to maintain their unique aesthetic vocabulary and at the same time we assist them in obtaining and using technologies that can help to make their work economically sustainable. We also help them find markets outside of their local communities.

Activities:
• Potters teaching Potters: PFP provides scholarships to Nicaraguan potters for in-country apprenticeships and training on specific techniques such as throwing, bead-making and drum-making. PFP organizes national conferences of Nicaraguan potters that serve as forum to share skills, voice concerns and evaluate projects.
• Technical and Design Assistance: PFP provides materials, technical assistance and training for building equipment such as wheels, extruders, energy-efficient kilns and burners.
• Fuel-efficient Kilns
• Alternative Fuel Burners
• Ceramic Raw Materials Research
• Marketing
• Coordination with other Organizations
• Educational Outreach and Documentation
• Training Center
• Filters: Potters for Peace has been assisting in the production of a low-tech, low-cost, colloidal silver-enhanced ceramic water purifier (CWP) throughout the world. Potters for Peace does not operate filter-making facilities or sell filters but we train others to do so.

Jennifer Mally is the Executive Director of Potters for Peace.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.