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El Mercurio
El Mercurio - Santa
Barbara,
Huancavelica
Sixta Hilario, Silvia Zuņiga,
Aydee
Riveros, Silva Moran, Anatolia Munarriz, Teresa
Castro, Luzmila Machuca, Amalia
Machuca, Juana Ccaico, Estela Barrios, Victoria
Chahuayo, Norma Chahuayo, Hilda
Quinto, Domitila Mancha, Paulina Acevedo,
Antonia Acevedo, Ofilia de la Cruz,
Sandra Sacha, Yovana Quinto, Elizabeth Quispe,
Leonarda Ayuque, Nancy
Villanueva, Zulma
Flores ,
Julia Flores, Andrea Pariansullca, Yody
Moran
El Mercurio is named for the famous mercury mine that was founded in 1530 and dominates Santa Barbara, the area that these women are from. The group started in 2003 with five women and has expanded to over thirty women. They also employ up to ten more women when they receive big orders.
The members of El Mercurio fled to the outskirts of Huancavelica in the 1980's, escaping the horrific violence in the Huancavelica countryside. (In 2003 it was finally reported that nearly 70,000 people were killed in Peru, most in Ayacucho and Huancavelica, in the 80's and 90's.) Some of these women arrived as young orphans. Most still have family land in Santa Barbara but are unable to eke out an existence there as the community is still rebuilding llama herds and recovering from the loss of key community leaders. Most of the women return to Santa Barbara (10-15 hour walk) two or three times a year for planting and harvesting periods, but live in Huancavelica most months of the year. 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 El Mercurio was formed, some washed clothes in the river for families who lived in Huancavelica, some shined shoes, and some worked in homes as maids. But none of these activities resulted in an income that would ever help them out of extreme poverty.
It is
important to mention that national statistics
show Huancavelica as the poorest region in Peru
and these women are from among the most
marginalized in Huancavelica.
Many groups in Peru produce finger puppets and when a local NGO presented El Mercurio with the idea, got out their knitting needles and bicycle spokes (when they didn't have needles), and started letting their creativity run wild. Their sets are precious and contain details that make their finger puppets stand apart. None of their homes have space for them to work together so for $3 a month, they rent a one-room house in which they gather every morning and late afternoon.
In addition to increasing the members income exponentially over the years, the group has also provided important support for the members. The workshop provides a safe space for members to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Shop El Mercurio's products >>
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El Mercurio is named for the famous mercury mine that was founded in 1530 and dominates Santa Barbara, the area that these women are from. The group started in 2003 with five women and has expanded to over thirty women. They also employ up to ten more women when they receive big orders.
The members of El Mercurio fled to the outskirts of Huancavelica in the 1980's, escaping the horrific violence in the Huancavelica countryside. (In 2003 it was finally reported that nearly 70,000 people were killed in Peru, most in Ayacucho and Huancavelica, in the 80's and 90's.) Some of these women arrived as young orphans. Most still have family land in Santa Barbara but are unable to eke out an existence there as the community is still rebuilding llama herds and recovering from the loss of key community leaders. Most of the women return to Santa Barbara (10-15 hour walk) two or three times a year for planting and harvesting periods, but live in Huancavelica most months of the year. 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 El Mercurio was formed, some washed clothes in the river for families who lived in Huancavelica, some shined shoes, and some worked in homes as maids. But none of these activities resulted in an income that would ever help them out of extreme poverty.
Many groups in Peru produce finger puppets and when a local NGO presented El Mercurio with the idea, got out their knitting needles and bicycle spokes (when they didn't have needles), and started letting their creativity run wild. Their sets are precious and contain details that make their finger puppets stand apart. None of their homes have space for them to work together so for $3 a month, they rent a one-room house in which they gather every morning and late afternoon.
In addition to increasing the members income exponentially over the years, the group has also provided important support for the members. The workshop provides a safe space for members to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Shop El Mercurio's products >>
Return to previous page >>