INKA PALLAY (Association of artisans)
In Bolivia craft is an activity which enables local people to generate an income alternative to subsistence agriculture, especially in disadvantaged rural areas. It gives more value to cultural identity of the population and contributes to promoting the role of women (a majority in this sector) within the family and the association. Today, SOS Faim provides assistance to seven artisans’ associations: Comart Tukuypaj (La Paz), Oruro Association of Artisans (ARAO), Tajzara Association of Artisans (AAT in Tarija), Indigenous Art Association “Inka Pallay” (Chuquisaca), El Lino Association (Cochabamba), Andean Association of Artisans (AAA in Cochabamba) and UNIARTE (Union of the Artisans of the Earth in Santa Cruz).
Below you will find details concerning the project run in cooperation with one of the above-mentioned organizations, Inka Pallay.
The context: Chuquisaca is one of the poorest regions in Bolivia. This isolated area is away from the main commercial routes -25.jpg)
and farming constitutes a high-risk and low-income activity. Families are turning to alternative ways to provide for their needs, namely craft which offers a more stable source of income.
Moreover, women reinvest this additional income in the household which benefits the children.
A project to assist the local population: Inka Pallay was founded in 2000 in order to enhance the production of high-quality textiles and the sale of craft products, which was a major bottleneck at the time. The association regroups 430 artisans, 95% of whom are women, organized in 14 artisans’ workshops.
Weaving of sheep wool is the specialty of Inka Pallay artisans. Among the main production lines we can distinguish “axus”, a traditional Quechuan rectangular weaving pattern, popular mainly in Jalk’a and Tarabuco. It depicts scenes form the farmers’ everyday life, their beliefs and their fears. The handicraft products are sold in four stores (in La Paz, Sucre, Uyuni and Tarabuco).
Marketing which brings results: Today, in order to further improve the marketing and therefore increase the revenues of the artisans, emphasis has been put on:
- Diversifying production into smaller and cheaper everyday use products; twelve new products are being developed (such as doilies, bags, cushions, scarves, purses, bookmarks or bracelets)
- Improving product quality and standardization which is necessary to meet export market requirements. However, it is difficult to convince artisans that for the sake of standardization they have to restrain their creativity and make objects of the same size, colours or patterns.
