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If you’re anything like me, you love to pack. If you’re not like me and you have no idea how to pack, especially for Peru, then I’m here to help. As someone who has traveled frequently and for extended periods of time in very different climates with only a backpack,...
Travel TipsBy Leighton Katz, Marketing and Communications Intern Photos By Emily Radek, Marketing and Communications InternAcclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux published a list of 10 essential tips for every traveler. Whether you’re on a beach vacation or living in a foreign country, these tips are useful and ensure that every...
#EveryStitchaStory: Global Giving Bonus DayBy Helen Johnston, Marketing and Communications Intern From the wool of Peruvian alpacas to the handbag over your shoulder, do you ever wonder how we go from traditional textiles to favorite accessories? Exquisite weavings done by artisans like Gregoria (you can learn more about her here)...
A Snapshot of ChoquekillkaBy Ashley Wade, Marketing and Communications Intern “The synthesis of the Catholic and Andean religions is something magic, something I have inside me.” Jenny, an Ollantaytambo local, shared with me the importance of the Choquekillka festival for her community and her family. The festival celebrates Señor de...
Abby Weaves a New PathBy Abby Hollis, Design Intern In a small, rural, Peruvian village, I witnessed raw material become finished product—quite a novel concept to the modern consumer. As my classmates and I passed around chunks of raw wool, fresh off the alpaca, women of the village stood before...
A Big Thank You To Your GlobalGiving HelpBy Allegra Bundy, Marketing and Communications Intern As the new year begins, we would like to take the time to thank all our supporters and donors who have helped us achieve our goals through GlobalGiving. Our partnership with GlobalGiving has allowed us to...
Spend Your Summer With Awamaki By Caitlin Lally, Marketing and Communications intern Download Flyer Interns are committed to Awamaki’s mission, enjoy taking initiative, have skills to contribute and are ready to learn and adapt to whatever situation may arise. Summer interns work in one of the following areas: Design, Sales,...
A week in the life of an Awamaki volunteer By Caitlin Lally, Marketing and Communications intern Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 I returned from the three-day weaving immersion in Patacancha today. After learning how to weave a headband yesterday from Sábina, this morning we headed to a local family’s chakra (farm)....
Ollanta Withdrawal By Abby Hollis, Design Intern During my time in Peru, I spent a weekend by myself in the jungle. This was when I realized that Ollanta had become my home. I attribute part of this realization to my unprecedented ease breathing but most of it to how much...
Congratulations Songuillay!By Kennedy Leavens, Executive Director, & Brianna Griesinger, Marketing and Communications Coordinator The highlight of our year is the graduation of Songuillay, a cooperative of 42 women in the community of Patacancha. This is a major milestone for Awamaki. Songuillay was the first group of artisans with whom we...
A New CultureBy Sara Swisher, Monitoring and Evaluations intern Before coming to Awamaki to complete a summer monitoring and evaluation internship in Ollantaytambo, Peru, I had never been outside the United States. I wasn’t sure what to expect but one of my goals was to learn about a new culture....
A Home Cooked MealFor one month, Awamaki was lucky enough to host 15 students from Lakeside High School in Seattle, Washington to come down and volunteer with us over the course of three weeks. A team of them were able to create some blog articles for us about various aspects...
A New NaturalBy Brianna Griesinger, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Natural dyes are an art form that can be traced back 6,000 years here in Peru. While synthetic dyes have threatened this tradition, some Andean artisans along with the global community are fighting for its resurgence. It is because of this...
Posed to EmpowerBy Elizabeth Salley, Marketing and Communications Intern “Okay, it´s time for affirmations! Find a partner!” Ginette Collin announces. The room becomes a flurry of movement as the artisans pair up and giggle. At first, some of the women are quiet, but within the next few minutes, the meeting...
Quechua in the ClassroomFor one month, Awamaki was lucky enough to host 15 students from Lakeside High School in Seattle, Washington to come down and volunteer with us over the course of three weeks. A team of them were able to create some blog articles for us about various aspects...
