Developing the local community

Following political and economic disputes between the landowners of haciendas (Puerta Campeche, Santa Rosa, Temozon, San Jose and Uayamon Haciendas), these large "farms", which for some resembled real villages, fell into decline (read the articles on the history of the 5 Yucatan haciendas).

Gradually, families that lived in the haciendas for generations and whose living depended on their work in the hacienda were left with no income and no future. The unemployment rate increased sharply in the rural communities of Yucatan.

Giving work to local people

When renovating the haciendas (Puerta Campeche, Santa Rosa, Temozon, San Jose and Uayamon Haciendas) and converting them into hotels, the social implications became extremely important.

To start of with, all the workers who participated in the renovations were members of the local population. Once the haciendas had opened, the local workers were retrained to take up positions in the hotels. For example, in the Hacienda Temozon, 90% of employees are from the neighbouring village, Temozon, or other nearby villages. Most incredibly, the current employees of the haciendas are often the descendants of those same families who worked in the agricultural haciendas.

Developing the traditional art

The reopening of the haciendas has also led to the development of social projects to help those who did not find work in the haciendas. These projects focused on agricultural crops and on the traditional arts. The inhabitants were volunteers trained in traditional artistic methods and were able to build subsidized workshops.

Most of these manufactured products are purchased by the haciendas for different purposes:  the daily operations of the haciendas, gifts for customers, and bathroom amenities. All crafts are sold in the hacienda shops.

In the Temozon village, there are artisan shops offering items made from sisal, embroidery and traditional clothing: the Huilipes. In Ochil, located 10 minutes from Temozon, artisans work with silver, wood and stone carving.

Masseuses trained in ancestral techniques

In 2004, some residents of Temozon were trained in the technique of traditional “Yucatan massages” to provide this service in the haciendas’ spas. Some of them were descendants of authentic "Sabadoras" (see the article on hacienda spas). This has enabled people (mostly women) to receive job training and ultimately to find work.

The foundation that is responsible today for the coordination of social activities in the haciendas is called the "Fundacion Haciendas del Mundo Maya."