FAIR TRADE
Camelot
Haven offers for sale many unique Fair Trade products which
have been skillfully crafted by Peruvian Artisans. These
Artisans receive a fair price for their work, have humane
working conditions and a respect for the environment.
Thank you for making a real
difference in their every day lives with your purchase of
these wonderful products.
Sumacc
Ruraq - items can be found under hand-knitted hats,
work of art socks and woven shawl
grupo
entero - is also Sumacc Ruraq
Grupo la
Esperanza - makes small backpacks.
This group does quality
work
on three small looms,
producing products with traditional Andean motifs.
SUMACC RURAQ
The Taype
family have long been weavers and knitters. They work with
over 80 knitters in various communities throughout Yauli.
They have specialized the communities so that one group
makes gloves; another scarves; another socks.
The income these
women make from knitting is the principal source of cash
income to their families and allows them to knit 2 or 3
hours per day when they are not doing the many other things
that they do each day in their rural areas. All still farm
and raise animals, and in fact, most visit the town of Yauli
once a month. The coordination that the Taype family has
provided makes it possible for the women to turn their
knitting skills into income without neglecting all their
other activities. The Taypes have also organized workshops
in communities to improve knitting
skills.
EL MERCURIO
Grupo El
Mercurio is named for the famous mercury mine that was
founded in 1530. They produce finger puppets -- fingerpuppet
sets -- the nativity figures, Little Red Riding Hood, Manco
Capac (creation story of the Incas), Noah´s ark, and Bible
story people. They have been working since the beginning of
2003.
These women
have incredible abilities to knit but have been unable to
channel their talent in a marketable way. Most have a number
of children and other family responsibilities. Before their
work together, some washed clothes in the river for families
who lived in Huancavelica. Some shined shoes. Some worked in
homes as maids. None of these activities result in income
that would ever help them out of extreme poverty.
