Rural poverty is one of the primary problems in the Third World. In many countries modern development is limited to large metropolitan areas, while the countryside is neglected, or worse, suffers from deteriorating economic conditions often accompanied by violent conflict.

Traditional handicrafts represent one of the few ways rural men and women can supplement their livelihoods, but all too often the artisans are exploited and the profits of their labor go to intermediaries, local and international. We are experimenting with a new model for breaking out from this pattern by directly representing producers and remitting all earnings to them. This is only possible because of modern air transport and rapid communications through the internet. We are striving to create an example that we hope will be emulated by other non-profit importers.

The principal source of the products sold here will be a group of women in Campohermoso, Colombia, who are developing a cooperative micro-industry. Campohermoso is  small, poor and very remote (6 hours by dirt road from the nearest city), and has no industries other than agriculture. The district is located on the forested eastern slopes of the Andes mountains and possesses great natural beauty.

Until recently,  Campohermoso suffered greatly from warfare between guerrilla and paramilitary forces, and some of the women in our group lost husbands and family members to the violence. Currently, the security situation is  good. To learn more about Campohermoso and to view more interesting photographs of the area, visit www.campohermoso.org.

Mujeres de Campohermoso

The women in the group-Jenifer Gordillo, Eliana Roa, Magda Roa, and Yudy Sandoval -are developing local markets for their jewelry and are beginning to produce more refined designs for the export market. The seeds they utilize are a renewable resource; most can be gathered from the local forests. Their activities are being coordinated by Paula Sabogal (in Campohermoso) and Russell Trenholme who is maintaining this website.

The photos to the right and below show some of the women at work and in their homes. The remaining photos give an idea of their families and daily life in Campohermoso.

We are also offering products made by a group of women in Bucaramanga, a colonial city several hundred miles north of Campohermoso . Although these women are not a cooperative, the organization is committed to offering employment at fair wages. In the future, we may offer products from similar groups.  

          Paula and Eliana

The Colombian military currently occupies Camphermoso after years of intermittant warfare between guerrilla and paramilitary forces.