The Casa de la Mujer Artesana

The Casa de la Mujer Artesana (Women Artisans Center), a long-held dream of Movimiento Manuela Ramos, was created on June 4, 1993, with the support of the Belgian cooperation agency FOS.  Its purpose is to contribute to the improvement of women artisans’ lives as well as to stimulate consumption and appreciation of Peruvian handicrafts produced by women.

At present, La Casa de la Mujer Artesana is dedicated to marketing and articulating with the market of women artisans’ products.  It organizes and participates in national and international fairs; and it responds to exporting and other business companies with quality products.

The Project Expanding opportunities for a sustainable economic participation of rural women from Puno

“Expanding opportunities for a sustainable economic participation of rural women from Puno” is executed by Movimiento Manuela Ramos with the objective of articulating 1,500 women from rural areas of Puno with the market.  Towards this aim, it offers training in knitting, business management, organization, and personal development.  The project is funded by FONDOEMPLEO - Fondo Nacional de Capacitación Laboral y de Promoción del Empleo (National Fund for Job Training and the Promotion of Employment) for the May 2008 - April 2011 period.

Fifteen percent of women beneficiaries of the project are heads of households.  The average size of their households is of 5 individuals, 2 or 3 of which are working, but only 1 or 2 of them are paid for their work.  The average monthly family income is 322 Soles.

Women’s ages vary from 20 to 59 years old and they have an average of 9 years of formal schooling.

93% of their dwellings are built with adobe and 70% have earthen floors and corrugated sheet metal roofing.  40% obtains water from wells and 68% have electricity.

Puno

The department of Puno, located in the southern highlands of Peru, has been denominated the “Folklore Capital of Peru” due to the wealth of its artistic and cultural expressions.  It is also well known for its hand-knitted and hand-embroidered handicrafts.

Puno has interesting archeological sites of the Pre-Inca cultures and old cities founded by the Spaniards, where architectonic jewels and colonial art can be appreciated.  Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake of the world, is located at 3,860 MASL, with landscapes of indescribable beauty.

"STRONG MOTHERS"

The ten teenage mothers selected by Manuela Ramos for the Strong Mothers Project continue their technical training in knitting and they have begun to sell the fruits of their training.  So far, we have beautiful sweaters and baby hats to offer.

They will soon be able to supply orders with quality products!!!

To learn more about this project, go to www.madresfuertes.com