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Areas of Work

Commercial Fair Trade Partnership

We have a commercial structure based on Fair Trade standards. It acts as a non-profit intermediary interested in promoting dignity and improving working conditions for Mapuche artisans from the Araucanía region in Chile. This area aims at promoting the producers' access to national and international markets. We are one of four Chilean members of the World Fair Trade Organization, WFTO. Currently, we base our work on four different lines of work:

1. Training: The constant redistribution of knowledge amongst artesans in our community.
2. Micro-credit: We offer wool of excellent quality and yield proportion.
3. Technical Assistance: A professional commitment to follow up on the training and production process.
4. Innovation & Quality Levels: We are committed to the maintenance and improvement of the quality and excellence of the products and the production process.

Empowerment of Mapuche Artisans

This area intends to provide the artisans with the tools they need for a high quality production and for a real decision-making set of skills.

Since 2008, a joint management set of skills has been given to the weavers from the Ñimi Kafe Association, in order for them to make decisions about production and business of their own products.

In this context, we currently run a participative training system, in which leadership and training is provided by the weavers to other weavers, sharing the knowledge they have and promoting their own leadership and expertise. If you wish to know more about Design & Innovation carried out in this area, check the Blog of Jasmine Aarons , volunteer with us in 2009.

Cultural and Fair Trade Promotion

In Southern Chile, we are striving to promote Fair Trade through a network that we helped found which is called "Red de Comercio Justo del Sur" (Southern Fair Trade Network, in English). Six small-producer and support organizations located in the Regions of Araucania and Bio-Bio in Chile have united to advocate and promote poverty alleviation through a sustainable and fair trade for the marginalized producers.

We share with you blogs from volunteers working in these areas:

Jake Rekedal

Chris Culbertson

Resources Development

As a non-profit and independent organization, we count on the following means to mobilize resources:

1. Grants writing and funding research.
2. Communications and Promotion.
3. Volunteers: Without financial remuneration, the volunteers lend their experience and knowledge to the fulfillment of the foundation's projects.
4. Community Services: Different services are available such as Weaving-Learning Internships and Courses, as well as a Social Tourism Initiative.