Bright Minds, Healthy Bites in Piruaj Bajo

Project Report: Strong Hands: Women Fighting Poverty with Clay

Over the past six months, women artisans from the indigenous community of Piruaj Bajo, in a remote rural area of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, have made important progress in strengthening their livelihoods through ceramic production. This community faces structural poverty, limited access to basic services, geographic isolation, and scarce economic opportunities, which especially affect women.

During this period, the ceramists completed two training courses that allowed them to improve their technical skills and expand their production. They are now creating a wider range of products, including traditional storage jars (tinajas), tableware, and decorative pieces.

A key milestone is that the women have already started generating income from the sale of their work, marking an important step toward economic autonomy.

At the same time, we have begun building a dedicated workspace. Until now, the women have been producing their pieces outdoors, under trees and exposed to harsh weather conditions, which limits both productivity and quality.

Despite these advances, significant challenges remain. Four of the participating women still do not have access to water in their homes, reflecting the critical living conditions in the community.

In the coming months, we will focus on completing the workspace, strengthening market access, and continuing to support the women in consolidating their production and income.