Created in Peru Working alongside Manos Amigas The partner organisation that Created works with in Peru is called Manos Amigas

Who are Manos Amigas? Manos Amigas S.A. (Friendly Hands) is a fair trade organisation that was started in 1991 and is dedicated to the export of handicrafts and Alternative Tourism. Manos Amigas S.A. which means Friendly Hands is a fair trade organisation that was started in 1991 and is dedicated to the export of handicrafts and Alternative Tourism.

MANOS AMIGAS manos amigas sa MA is headed up by Yannina – Top L Hand pic with her husband Mario and her brother Tito (turq shirt Top R Hand pic). They employ 4 staff who pack orders for shipment, 3 in the office,1 trainer and an external accountant. MA started in 1991 when Yannina was working for a non-profit organisation but was unhappy because she felt that they were not paying fair prices. She decided to leave and was asked by a fair trade buyer to create a new organisation but she didn’t have the money to do this. The buyer promised her an order with 50% advance. Yannina felt that this was what God wanted her to do and told her brother and her mother that she thought they should do this as a family. They felt that God would provide everything. In the beginning progress was very slow but gradually more buyers came to work with them.

Their Vision To be recognised by their clients and providing artisans as one of the best handicraft export and Peruvian tourism companies. Their vision is to be recognised by their clients and providing artisans as one of the best handicraft export and Peruvian tourism companies.

MA work with producers who work with many different raw materials using a great variety of skills For a producer to be taken on by MA they must already have some experience. They must show signs of being able to make a product that will be acceptable for export.

A producer must be willing to work with MA, to make changes to style and colour, improve quality and increase capacity. blue item was the original colours – green item shows slight changes to colour for American market.

Where do they work? Junín Cuzco Puno Huancavelica Ayacucho Pacasmayo Lima MA work with producers who are mostly in the central and southern parts of Peru

There are lots of producers in Lima – often in the slum areas.

Many artisans have moved to Lima from the mountains because of terrorism

MA also work with producers in the mountainous areas of the Andes – so that they do not need to move to Lima in search of work

This producer lives near Ayacucho – about 4 hours drive south of Lima

Who do Manos Amigas work with? Depending on work load, the number of workers involved can range from 292 artisans, and when the work load is heavy, there can be over 900 artisans preparing their merchandise for sale around the world. Depending on work load, the number of workers involved can range from 292 artisans, and when the work load is heavy, there can be over 900 artisans busy preparing their merchandise for sale around the world.