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Mercedes Benavides

Mercedes Benavides de Vizquerra, founding member of Wayra textile project, shares her story:

"I chose 'Wayra' as a symbol of the wind running through the traditional weaves of the Huancavelica region, where we work. My son, José Alberto Vizquerra, was doing a geology practice in the Julcani mine, even though it was about to be closed down. This of course meant that a lot of people would be left without a job, and my son was phoning me practically everyday. 'Mom!' he would say. 'Do something – women and children are desperate because the mine is closing and there are no jobs!'

"José Alberto was so worried that he convinced a designer to come to the region. She specialized in Andean textiles, and she evaluated the people's potential and capabilities. She concluded that the only thing they knew how to do was to weave, and that they should be weaving small items because Andean women have already a lot of things on their hands, such as looking after their children, their homes, and their animals. They usually weave while walking.

"The 'Huancavelicano Christmas Tree' was borne from this study, and in 2005 it won the Padis Award for best hand-crafted design.

"The Rosa de América workshop now participates in this project, as well as people from neighboring cities and towns, including Ccarhuacc, Anchonga, Velazco, Pucapampa, Tucsipampa, Parco Alto, Tantachi, Ciudad de Lircay, and Ciudad de Huancavelica.

"We have trained over 250 women, which in turn has helped them increase their earnings and improve their living conditions. They have told us how proud they feel with what they have achieved. We have received reports that their children have also improved their grades at school.

"We have participated in several exhibitions in Peru, as well as in the Atlanta Gift Show (2004). People have been requesting other types of items apart from our Christmas tree, including throws and other decorative items.

"Our dream is to become the biggest and most trusted supplier of natural fiber textiles for home furnishings. We want to be known as leaders in quality products, as well as for generating more jobs and keeping good working conditions with the people and the communities we are involved with.

"We specialize in hand-crafted products, whether loomed, knitted or crocheted. Our products have gone beyond Peruvian borders, reaching neighboring countries as well as far away places.

"Our aim is to preserve the traditional techniques developed by our ancestors by creating high quality products.

"We appreciate your support for this great project concerning Andean women weavers, who are mothers as well as providers for their families."