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The distinctive colours and designs of El Salvador’s art and artefacts has attracted many people. Many are delighted to receive or to purchase some of their work but may not realise that it carries a special message and it has a unique story hidden in each piece, especially in the Copinol seed pendants.

The story started with the seeds of the Copinol tree when, in 1972, Fernando Llort took some seeds in his hand and pondering deeply on the suffering and extreme poverty of his people. The thought of life hidden in a seed filled him with wonder. It is said when a person "wonders and wonders things begin to happen". The Gospel story of the seed being the Word of God and what happens when a seed falls on food group led him to explore the seeds in his hand. He cut one in half and discovered that it’s centre was a creamy colour and on this part he drew a tiny miniature picture, painted it and decided to make a pendant by placing a hook on the seed. Then a dream came to him. he would train the people of the town of La Palma to make similar pendants, forming the workers into a small co-operatives that would make and market the pendants. The pendants would depict scenes of the Gospel and scenes showing the daily life of the people, their environment and animals. Later the art was done on wood, making crosses and plaques.

Llort started working form his house with his wife Estella and 10 other people form La Palma. He taught them techniques and the process of drawing, painting, and how to finish the products they made. The workshop was named "La Semilla de Dios" which means the seed of God. The demand for production increased and diversified with the addition of clothing and embroidery. This enabled them to hire more people and to teach them to work and produce in groups. The production of handicrafts continued to grow in the area and this became the main activity and heritage of the region. It also became a tourist attraction.

On August 27 1977, the artist, inspired with Christian beliefs, decided to make his workshop into a cooperative. Today, in addition to the original workshop, there are 24 family run workshops and they employ altogether 3,000 artisans, including children, teenagers and adults.

At the beginning of 1980 Llort and his family moved to the capital. It was then when they had the idea to form a centre of art and craft to further the work started in La Palma. So, in 1981, in the garage of their new home, "El Arbol de Dios" became a reality. So called because the seed (la semilla) of La Palma had become the tree (el arbol) that had spread so far that its branches reached worldwide. In August 1985, like a dream come true, a large centre of art and crafts was inaugurated at Final Calle Mascota, Col. Maquilishuat, San Salvador.

The handicrafts of La Palma and "El Arbol de Dios" are very well known internationally for their unique personality, character and originality. they are truly some of the finest examples of modern and contemporary design and are now stocked in the Romero Centre in Dublin.

El Salvador Awareness used this story of Fernando Llort as the inspiration for their recent courses on Art and Development Education. Art courses for adults and children are now being held.