Sumak Muyu

made from various Ecuadorian palm nuts, including Tagua, Acai, Coco, and Pambil. The 12 members of our women's group work together to improve community life. Among our members are subsistence farmers, midwives, herbalists, nurses, and community health workers. Working together cooperatively, we have built a preschool for the children in our community and started a rural eco-tourism project to promote intercultural exchange and strengthen our traditions and local economy. Our dream is that by creating jewelry together, we will not only earn income for education, healthcare, and a better quality of life for our families and community, but also provide space for our ongoing friendship and solidarity as women. Meet the women of Sumak Muyo:

Magdalena Fueres

"My hope is that women's conditions that are not equitable will improve. That someday women will be free to make their own decisions, and not depend on men. I hope that students grow up without forgetting about our community and the solidarity of our culture. That all women have employment and love for their children. That we care for our culture and the environment. That we have the capacity to improve the conditions of our lives. That our children don't follow paths towards vices and that they are leaders of their community and country, without losing the vision of our ancestors and population. That we use only what is necessary and don't destroy our environment for personal needs. Because without the earth, we have no life." Marisol Moenola

"I'm Marisol and I would like that all of our artists are valued and that through this method we can continue working gaining more income for our group of women." Marisol has four children ages 21 through 4. Marisol loves that Sumak Muyo allows the women of La Calera to come together to work and laugh. Flora Yolanda Yepez

Flora is a health and artisan worker who has been a leader in her community for the last 24 years. "I like to work with women, children and in the community. I'm a health promoter, artist and matron of my household with three children and four grandchildren." With the income from the jewelry she would like to improve her family finances and help the community. She sees Sumak Muyo as a space for women to share their problems, talk and help each other. Inés Bonilla Flores

Inés works as a community promoter for a women's center in Cotacachi that supports women who are in violent situations psychologically, medically, and legally. She also works with agriculture and runs a small internet café from her home. With the funds from the jewelry, she would like to create a fund to help women and to subsidize the cost of schooling for their children. She would also like to start a community-based loaning system. Her favorite part of Sumak Muyo is that the women get to spend time together to share their pains, forget about anything stressful and just be together laughing. Her message to you is: "You have a big heart from living well and it's because you are people who buy from Sumak Muyo so that indigenous women can excel in the economic realm. I wish you luck, happiness and God's blessings." Monica Morales

Monica is a nurse and the daughter of Flora. She is married with two daughters, ages 7 years and 1 month. She says "Sumak Muyo is a way for the women of la calera to have fun together with financial benefits for each of the women involved."