Knitter trainings in Rumira

by Gillian Fitzpatrick, M&E Intern

Awamaki’s most advanced knitting cooperative, the Virgen del Carmen knitting cooperative in Rumira, has been attending business training workshops. The workshops are designed to give the women the skills they need to graduate from our impact model program into their own autonomous organization. They will be the first Awamaki cooperative do to so.

Awamaki has partnered with the Seattle International Foundation and the Cusco-based Centro Bartolomé de las Casas (CBC) to provide experienced trainers in complex topics like choosing a tax regime and invoicing clients. The CBC is an specializes in educating indigenous Peruvian cooperatives about how to integrate into the modern business world.

In the past few months, the women have attended hours of training on marketing, management & business, and self-esteem. Each workshop lasts an entire business day, and the women of Rumira actively take notes, ask questions, and practice business scenarios.

The workshops are already giving the women the tools they need to improve their business practices. Since starting the trainings, the group has already taken the step to legally register with the Peruvian tax authority, necessary for a successful business.

Future training will cover the use of technology, export rules, and financial reporting. Our partnership with the Seattle International Foundation (SIF) is designed to give the women the skills they need to graduate from our model and run a successful independent business within the next year.

About Awamaki

Awamaki is a nonprofit fair trade social enterprise dedicated to connecting Andean artisan weavers with global markets. We collaborate with women artisans to support their efforts towards educational and financial independence by co-creating beautifully handcrafted knit and woven accessories using hertiage techniques.