The spectacular site of kuelap is set for a tourism explosion which might bypass local communities unless they have the skills to take advantage of it
The Site
Kuelap is one of the most important pre-Inca sites in Peru. Located in the Amazonas region, the huge fortress is over 600 meters in length will walls which rise over 19 metres containing over 400 buildings. It was inhabited by the Chacha people for around 700 years before the Inca invasion.
The Community
Kuelap is poised for a huge increase in tourists due the development of a cable car to the site. Local stewardship and economic benefit are vital for this tourism to be sustainable. The community of Maria is an hour away from the site, on the road tourists currently take, which will be bypassed by the new cable car.
The Project
SPI is working with an exceptional association of women artisans in Maria, to give them the skills and knowledge to build their business with new hand-made products and benefit from the rich archaeology and make their community thrive.
Achievements
During 2016, the women worked with designers to create new products inspired by their local cultural and natural heritage and learned how to make the new designs. Their products are on sale, and the group has nearly quadrupled their average income from before the project!
The women are also selling at a nearby museum as well as at craft fairs throughout Peru!
the big thing we learned
Community organization is at the heart of everything we do and this group is a great example of that!
The Future
The women are learning to make themselves a more effective business to bring themselves more opportunities and make their community thrive!
Kuelap PROJECT UPDATES
🇵🇪 Members from SPI's #SISAN and #Kuelap initiatives participated in a gift swap this week in #Peru which included handmade products made by the artisans!
— SPInitiative (@SPInitiative) October 3, 2020
Read about the #businesswomen behind these projects:
➡️ https://t.co/koLOjDQSbM
➡️ https://t.co/M0QNFMOn1h pic.twitter.com/rm2vHQyn9g
🧶 New #handmade products from SPI #artisans living near the #Kuelap archeological site - one of the most important pre-Inca sites in #Peru!
— SPInitiative (@SPInitiative) May 6, 2020
➡️ To learn more about how these female entrepreneurs are preserving local heritage, visit:https://t.co/nEt1jgrXmn pic.twitter.com/G6PZlyUJgS
🎨🖌Designs and products by SPI #artisans from across #Peru, featuring work from San Jose de Moro, Pachacamac, Cajamarca, Kuelap & more! pic.twitter.com/rgPFBP39oz
— SPInitiative (@SPInitiative) March 21, 2020
Access to business #education elevates #women #entrepreneurs by giving them the tools to combat economic marginalization.
— SPInitiative (@SPInitiative) August 9, 2020
📸 An SPI-trained artisan weaving near the site of #Kuelap in #Peru:https://t.co/nEt1jgrXmn pic.twitter.com/BxjahnRhAe