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El Mercurio
El Mercurio - Santa
Barbara,
Huancavelica
Sixta Hilario, Silvia Zuñiga,
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 historic mercury mine that was founded in 1530 and still dominates Santa Barbara, the birthplace of many of the group’s members. The group started in 2003 with five women and has expanded to over thirty. When they receive large orders,they can employ up to ten more workers.
The members of El Mercurio fled to the outskirts of Huancavelica in the 1980s, escaping the horrific violence in the countryside. (In 2003, it was finally reported that nearly 70,000 people were killed in Peru, most in Ayacucho and Huancavelica, in the 1980s and 1990s.) 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 (a 10-15 hour walk) two or three times a year for planting and harvesting, but live in the town of Huancavelica for most of the year. These women have incredible knitting abilities, but had 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 others worked in homes as maids; none of these jobs provided an income that could help them out of extreme poverty.
National
statistics show Huancavelica as the poorest
region in Peru, and these women are from among
the most marginalized in the
area.
Many groups in Peru produce finger puppets, and when a local NGO presented El Mercurio with the idea, they got out their knitting needles (and bicycle spokes when they didn't have needles) and let their creativity run wild. Their sets are precious and contain details that make their finger puppets stand apart. None of their homes has 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 acts as a safe space for them 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 historic mercury mine that was founded in 1530 and still dominates Santa Barbara, the birthplace of many of the group’s members. The group started in 2003 with five women and has expanded to over thirty. When they receive large orders,they can employ up to ten more workers.
The members of El Mercurio fled to the outskirts of Huancavelica in the 1980s, escaping the horrific violence in the countryside. (In 2003, it was finally reported that nearly 70,000 people were killed in Peru, most in Ayacucho and Huancavelica, in the 1980s and 1990s.) 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 (a 10-15 hour walk) two or three times a year for planting and harvesting, but live in the town of Huancavelica for most of the year. These women have incredible knitting abilities, but had 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 others worked in homes as maids; none of these jobs provided an income that could help them out of extreme poverty.
Many groups in Peru produce finger puppets, and when a local NGO presented El Mercurio with the idea, they got out their knitting needles (and bicycle spokes when they didn't have needles) and let their creativity run wild. Their sets are precious and contain details that make their finger puppets stand apart. None of their homes has 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 acts as a safe space for them to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Shop El Mercurio's products >>
Return to previous page >>