From Earthquake to Entrepreneur...Ecuador

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. – Pablo Picasso

The CDC Community Development Center at Bahia de Caraquez has being supporting a women handicrafts group that operates at Leonidas Plaza Community.  The main objective of the handicraft project is to equip the local people with required skills so that they can be able to get alternative source of income by selling their produce to the tourists who visit their village.

In August we carried out a workshop on how to make handbags with blue jeans and stamped and colored fabric scraps. At first they learned how to make the molds on newspaper, then cutting and finally they have to hand-sew.

In addition, they can decorate it with lace, ribbons, buttons, attachments; it is an opportunity for them to show their initiative and creativity. The Handbags are sold in $3 to $ 4 American dollars.

The handcraft groups are however not meant for women though they are the majority. So far these are the main parties involved and their daughters from 15 years old. During the workshop we provided them the materials to make the examples for each one.

Taking advantage of the fact that we are close to the Christmas holidays, in September we held a Christmas Craft workshop. The community learned how to make portrait frames with recyclable materials and Eva foam. They were delighted in this workshop, we saw how they were all so excited putting their personal touch in their handicrafts.

We firmly believe that the work we are doing is not in vain, when we finish the project, we will make an exhibition of everything they have done so far.

There is no right or wrong way to be an artist. When we create, we are given the opportunity to be free to express ourselves. We have permission to take risks, try new things, and strip away inhibitions in a healthy way. We are #WITHYOUECUADOR!

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