Mothers undertake from art and conservation

The preservation of nature and the conservation of flora and fauna are the main inheritance that the mothers of the Corosha district seek to leave their children.

In the heart of the Peruvian jungle is this peasant community, located in the province of Bongará, in Amazonas. They are part of the Golden Bear Association, where they develop different sustainable economy activities. There are a total of 30 members, of which 75% are women and mothers.

Sarai Cieza (27) has three children and is the coordinator of the craft group. “We are 12 artisans, all mothers. We weave looms, we make crafts. The tourist can see the animals live and then take them as a souvenir as a stuffed animal, ”she declares.

Among the products they make are stuffed animals and thematic sweaters of the main species in the area, several of which are in danger of extinction, which are the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, the night monkey, the Andean bear and the golden bear.

The prices vary according to the sizes, ranging from S/25 to S/45 and S/55, while Embroidered sweaters cost between S/130 and S/150. In 2022, they were able to sell approximately 200 of their crafts. “It is a great support for all my colleagues. We have been learning and moving forward ”, she adds. Sales are also given at the national level with the support of the NGO Yunkawasi.

He tells us that everything has been constant work, in which they have been specializing and improving their fabrics.

Routes and challenges

The materials they use are domino threads, perlite and nappa, which is used for the filling. The rise in prices has also affected them, so they choose to get their supplies in Lima or nearby regions. Before, in the pre-pandemic, the thread used to cost S/5, but now it is S/20 a package. Likewise, the nappa went from S/18 per kilo to S/25.

During 2020, sales dropped and only 20 stuffed animals were sold.

Miriam Porto Carrerowho will have her third child in a month, is the president of the association and points out that, although all the activities in that year slowed down by 70% and 80%, the community did not stop and continued training to be able to develop actions for the benefit of the conservation area and in the areas of guidance, food, crafts, lodging and species research.

“We run workshops to strengthen the capacities of partners. The people of the association do not have a university degree, we are people from the countryside, but we are developing projects, ”he reiterated.

In the future, they hope to be able to finish building the first interpretation center for the yellow-tailed woolly monkey, which would help tourism in the department of Amazonas.

As a mother and community leader, the main thing for her is conservation “so that our children have the guarantee of enjoying clean airof the water and the natural resources that we have today”, concludes Miriam.

experiment and teach

For Thamia Caballero (25), working with ceramics is a way of subsisting through art and of revaluing the multicultural characteristics of Peru. He founded his venture Plastic Conspiracies during the complicated stage of the pandemic. “My business was born out of necessity because I had just become a mother, I was a student, and I needed to fend for myself and generate income,” she mentions.

She defines her work as handmade and in an aesthetic style. Among the pieces that she makes are cups, ashtrays, plates, pipes, earrings and necklaces. Prices range from S/15 to S/80 and for custom orders they can reach S/140. “Projects are like seeds, they grow with dedication, effort and love. A concept similar to that of motherhood,” she adds.

At the same time, Thamia also runs ceramic workshops. Teaching is one of the activities that he appreciates and enjoys the most. Currently, she is in the last cycle of Artistic Education at the School of Fine Arts. “The process of being a mother helped me understand my students more,” she says.

projections

Despite the fact that the sector is booming, many materials have presented an increase in their costs of between 30% and 45%. Clay, two years ago, was worth S/15 for a bag of 12 and a half kilos and now they sell it for S/25. In addition, the pigments have been raised by 20%. Burning in the oven —which gives the pieces resistance— has a cost of between S/80 and S/220.

As an expectation, Thamia hopes to continue growing, to have a permanent workshop and implement more equipment, such as its own oven. Besides, plans to be able to participate and move their crafts in fairs throughout Latin America.

Online sales options for Mother’s Day

The Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) reported that 49% of online buyers will invest amounts greater than S/500. In addition, sales in this modality will grow by 20% compared to the same campaign in 2022.

Oso Dorado products can be found physically at fairs and virtually through the community website, through the NGO Yunkawasi or by direct request with the president and coordinator.

Through the Instagram of Plastic Conspiracies you can place orders for ceramic pieces. The cost of the workshops is S/180 and two people for S/300.