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WOMEN FROM GUAYAMA: Knitting Their Future
Guayama San Pedro is a little village near to Sigchos;
here is the home place of around 600 people,
most of whom depend on agriculture
and animal raising.
Through its affiliate office in Cotopaxi, Plan International
has been working in several projects in this area
supporting people and making them
able to improve their living standards.
One such project was executed in order to generate
income for women in the community
and improve not only their life standards,
but also those of their children.
-We contacted people from Plan;
and they saw that women are poor here,
they have no ways to earn some money
so, they looked for this project that we're carrying out now.
-Before people started to order our bracelets;
we are dedicated to agriculture in our small plots;
we sowed "chochos",lentils, potatoes and barley.
Supported by the advisers of the local office of Plan,
Guayama women are now organized
into a successful small business, dedicated to making
and selling handmade bracelets.
Women's hands formerly mistreated by working their crops,
now skillfully knits bracelets, shawls,
skirts, belts and other items.
Their first order was for several hundreds bracelets,
which were sent to Japan, to be sold there.
-Here in Guayama, we had begun to knit along with the women's group
and the support of Efrén,our Plan partner, and Martha Pilatásig.
They set out to find customers for our crafts
then called women and girls in the community,
who are also knitting with us now.
Then, pleased with their first successful experience
Guayama women entered in a process of
continuous improvement and learning
about materials, types of fabric, colors,
and several details that make their crafts unique.
-Paulina, our Plan partner came and showed us
how we have to knit, how to iron the bracelets,
in order to export quality handicrafts.
This experience has given women a chance to reach
some financial independence in their homes
and substantially improving their lives.
-This has helped us a lot; for example
we're no longer expecting our husbands give us money.
With this job I can afford my children's education;
as well as rest of women here.
Guayama women learned to manage their small business responsibly.
The purchase of materials for new orders
and investment amounts are solely his own decisions.
Due to the uniqueness and beauty of their handicrafts,
Guayama women are constantly receiving product orders
to be shipped to costumers overseas.
Due to the excellent organization of these women,
tasks are distributed according to the availability of each member;
that means every order is delivered on time,
and with superb quality.
-Here in Guayama, we make scarves, shawls, bracelets, all in handcrafts.
-Customers make us order and we ship what they request.
With inclusive projects like this,
based on popular and solidary economy,
it is possible to significantly improve the lives
of people who, otherwise wouldn't have
the same development opportunities.
-We had no ways to catch even a dollar.
Nowadays, women feel happier,
and have at least the chance to earn a few cents.
They can help their husbands now,
and can pay for their children's school as well.
This kind of organized finances,
based on personal growth, not in wealth accumulation,
has resulted in great contribution
on improving lives of of people in Guayama San Pedro
-These bracelets we're making, are made with love;
we work doing this every day to solve our life.
So please keep supporting us and keep buying us these handcrafts,
which are made with so much love.