Jobita Aucayllo

Jobita Aucayllo and her family were forced to live in the outskirts of Lima, at the very top of a dusty mountain and struggled day to day to make ends meet. “I came to Lima for education because my parents only paid for my studies until 6th grade.  I arrived when I was 17 and began to work and study. I finished high school and then studied one year more to become a tailor. I worked for a little while and then stopped when I had my first child.”

It is quite common for Peruvians to move from the rural area where they were born to large cities, usually in search of work or to continue their education. As of 2005, 7.6 million people lived in Lima (the capital of Peru) and half of that population lives below the poverty level. Unfortunately, Lima and other cities across the country do not have the infrastructure to handle this mass migration; most neighborhoods do not have paved roads, running water, or electricity.

The artisan group Kuichi emerged from the neighborhood of San Genaro in Lima, which can best be described as a slum.  The group was started by several women who gathered together to celebrate each others birthdays and holidays.  On Mother’s Day several years ago, as all the women gathered, one woman and her husband suggested starting a small business.  She knew a lot about sewing, and more importantly, sewing machines, and would play an important role in teaching others in the community.  

Through the use of the internet, the group stumbled across the Bridge of Hope Fair Trade project.  They created several items to present as examples of their work. Bridge of Hope accepted these samples and asked all the members to meet the leaders of Bridge of Hope in their Lima Office.  There they were taught small business skills, design, and the concept of Fair Trade among other capacity building and personal development trainings.  
 
Jobita was one of the women who gathered together during special occasions in San Genaro and was instrumental in the formation of the group and its eventual success.  

“When we first formed the group, things were really difficult and we didn’t know how to work as a team. But together we’ve been able to reflect on the good and bad things that we’ve done.”


“Working in Fair Trade with Kuichi is not like working for one of those companies that are strict and don’t let you leave work if you need to go take care of your kids or your family. For me, one of the best parts about working in Fair Trade is the flexibility and that I can always put my children and family first.  When my husband got very sick I had to take care of him. Kuichi still paid me even though I couldn’t work. “

“Thanks to Fair Trade I have learned to socialize with people and to sew. Before, I was closed in the house and wasn’t learning anything new, but now we’re learning about what’s going on around the world and what’s going on in our own community by working together.”

Kuichi has now been working together for the past several years. Jobita’s vision, which is shared by many in the group, is to have a set workshop, have more products, and export more around the world.  The one need that the whole group agreed with is for more work.  The larger the market becomes the more they can grow.  

PJT is working hard to help the artisans expand their market. You can help too by purchasing one of Kuichi’s unique products.

Shop Kuichi’s products here >>


Learn about other featured producers:

• Bertha Flores
• Yody Moran