Empowering Lives Through Artisan Candle-Making

When Marcelo first arrived at our workshop in Barrio 31, he wasn’t sure he could stay.

Like many of the 58 participants who joined our program in 2025, he was in recovery from substance use and trying to rebuild his life. He had tried different jobs before, but without structure and support, consistency felt impossible.

In recovery, the hardest part is not starting.
It’s staying.

Every morning at 9 a.m., Marcelo now walks into the candle workshop. He puts on his apron, prepares soy wax, measures fragrance carefully, and works alongside his team. What once felt unfamiliar is now routine. What once felt unstable is now structure.

This year, we focused not on how many people enter the program — but on how many are able to remain.

In 2025:

• 58 individuals participated in our workshops

• Average attendance reached 76%

• 65% remained between 4–12 months

• Long-term participation (over one year) reached historic levels

For people overcoming addiction, permanence is progress.

More Than Candle-Making

This year marked an important shift. We expanded working hours for participants who demonstrated consistency and responsibility. Twice a week, selected individuals stayed for extended shifts — increasing both income and autonomy.

To make this possible, we built a new dining and locker space inside the workshop. It may sound simple, but having a safe place to store belongings and share a meal brought dignity and order to the space. It strengthened the feeling that this is not temporary help — it is real work.

Participants produced:

• 17,393 soy candles

• 10,962 recycled glass units

• 3,570 kg of glass reintegrated into the production cycle

But the real production is something less visible: confidence, discipline, teamwork.

Holistic Support for Lasting Change

Recovery requires more than employment. Throughout 2025, our team provided:

• 26 intake interviews

• 17 individualized follow-ups

• 8 emotional health workshops

• 4 financial literacy sessions

• 11 community assemblies

Our social worker remained in close coordination with local community centers to ensure that housing, family, and legal challenges did not interrupt participants’ progress.

One of our most powerful outcomes this year was among participants from the trans community, who showed the highest average permanence — 14 months. Access to inclusive employment is not just opportunity; it is stability.

Looking Ahead

Marcelo recently told us:

"Before, I couldn’t imagine myself working every day. Now I’m thinking about what comes next."

That shift — from survival to future planning — is the transformation your support makes possible.

In 2026, we aim to expand extended working hours to more participants and strengthen our ability to track long-term progress.

Each candle represents light.
But more importantly, it represents someone choosing to stay — in recovery, in community, and in hope.

Links:

• Our website
• Report

During the first half of 2025, Luz de Esperanza continued to expand its mission of creating dignified employment opportunities for people in treatment for substance use disorders and living in vulnerable situations. From our workshop in Barrio 31, Buenos Aires, we combined artisanal craft with social reintegration, producing thousands of handcrafted candles that symbolize transformation and hope.

Over these months, 42 participants took part in our workshops — candle-making, glass-cutting, and sewing — developing new skills, strengthening self-confidence, and finding purpose through teamwork and creativity. For many, this space has become a bridge between recovery and meaningful work.

One of our greatest achievements this semester was the growth of our soy-wax candle production, which increased by 135% compared to last year. This shift toward sustainable materials reflects both our commitment to the environment and the professionalization of our production processes. Partnerships with local organizations such as Patagonia Candles, Construyendo, and Los Naranjos allowed us to innovate with new designs and expand our reach.

Beyond production, we deepened our social support system through monthly assemblies, emotional-wellness workshops, and individual follow-ups carried out by our social worker. Each person’s journey is unique, and we continue to walk alongside them, helping to rebuild routines, reconnect with their communities, and recover their sense of agency.

A key milestone was launching a commercial mentorship with consultant Jorge Bizama, which helped us strengthen sales strategies, optimize logistics, and develop new corporate gift lines that merge social impact with design. These improvements translate into greater sustainability for the organization and more stable jobs for our participants.

Finally, our Aroma Box subscription grew to 68 active members, bringing the stories of our artisans directly to homes across Argentina — each box a tangible expression of resilience and beauty born from second chances.

Links:

• https://luzdeesperanza.org.ar/velas-aromaticas-solidarias