Enterprising Women of San Gerardo

Mujeres Emprendedoras is an organization of women weavers and natural health. They have their headquarters in the parish of San Gerardo, 11 km by car to the east of Giron.

 

They are 11 women from San Gerardo and Victoria del Portete, two rural parishes in the province of Azuay, determined to cooperate through popular and solidarity economy activities, to improve the living conditions and guarantee the subsistence of their families.

 

They offer the public a variety of products. Embroidery with thread and ribbon, dolls, colored pillows that can serve as pincushions, shawls, wallets, clothing, uniforms.

 

Another line of work is native herbal remedies and cosmetics. Healing ointments for flu, camphor oil, flower extract for bad air or the evil eye, oatmeal and honey soaps.

 

The popular initiative is supported by a mining company and public and private institutions. They hope to continue growing, that more women will support them and become economically independent from their husbands.

 

At the San Gerardo Infocenter they were trained in the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Entrepreneurship module. They are able to market their handicrafts, pharmacy products and natural cosmetics nationwide.

 

Their official Facebook page is @Asociación Mujeres Emprendedoras de San Gerardo, where they promote all their activity. They are another successful example of a business model that inspires others to replicate this experience.

 

The rural parish of San Gerardo in the canton of Giron is the area of influence of the Loma Larga mining project and has a population of approximately 1,000 inhabitants who are mostly engaged in agricultural work. It has health, road, sanitation and education infrastructure and services.