Ecuador
Our centre in Ecuador provides training in paper-making, jewellery, screen-printing and sewn textiles, providing our disabled artisans with skills that they can use to become self employed artisans or seek work within the many crafts based projects and businesses in Ecuador.
In Ecuador we’re working in Santo Domingo province, where we’ve established a training centre for people with a wide range of disabilities.
As in other parts of South America, people living with disabilities are often to be found on the margins of their society, excluded from employment and therefore consigned to a life of poverty. These are bright, capable people who long for the same chances as everyone else.
Originally, we trained and sent out UK volunteers for 2 year placements, to establish the project and to train the first 3 groups of artisans, before handing over to a local Ecuadorian couple to lead the project: Carlos & Jessica Bravo.
Hope and a Future
Our team in Ecuador have seen amongst the biggest challenges this year at Artizan International but we are pleased to be able to share our NEW Co-production project begins to deliver remarkable results. The initiative truly reflects our mission of ensuring that our beneficiaries lead the way in shaping activities that empower people with disabilities to live more independent and fulfilling lives.
By working with— not just for —those we aim to support, together, we will co-design and co-produce a new strategic direction for our operations in Ecuador, ensuring that the voices of those often pushed to the margins guide our path forward.
Handmade in Equador
We sell the beautiful hand-made cards that Ramon, Pedro, Federico & all their colleagues make, in the best card shops in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Also in the Galapagos Islands, Mindo & elsewhere. We also sell through Fair Trade shops around the UK including our own in Harrogate, and have an online shop too.
Meet some of our Artisans
