Lima, Peru

Partners since 2014

About

On a side street in Lima sits a brightly painted yellow house that has become a beacon of hope for families emerging from economic hardship. This yellow house is a jewelry workshop founded by master Artisan Fermin and his wife Madelyn. Fermin was taught the tools of jewelry making at a very young age–working with traditional Peruvian techniques and using local materials to create elaborate designs.

For Fermin, supporting the economic health of this community was one of the joys of his life. Sadly, Fermin passed away in 2022–but before he passed, he shared, “We want to provide people with the tools to get ahead and ensure they always have a place with us here.” Today, Fermin’s legacy of impact lives on. His son Franco now leads the workshop, and is committed to continuing the important work his father began.

  • Lima, Peru

    Peru is a South American country that is considered tropical, but is home to a huge diversity of climates, from mountains to shoreline to rainforest. It was once the site of the powerful Incan Empire, the largest civilization in Pre-Columbian America. The name Peru itself comes from a word meaning “land of abundance” in Quechua, the ancient language of the Inca people. Peru is home to the oldest university in the Americas—it has run continually since 1551.

Artisan Story

  • Franco
    Franco is carrying on his father’s legacy – but he is not doing it alone. Supported by his mother Madelyn and a team of Artisans who feel like family, Franco is growing into a capable leader. “I have more to learn,” Franco says, “but they have made me feel more confidence in my new role.” Under Franco’s leadership, the workshop in the yellow house will undoubtedly continue to be a symbol of a brighter future for many people for years to come.
  • Madelyn
    As she grieved the loss of her husband Fermin, we invited Madelyn along to meet our Artisan Business Partners who work with the native Quechua people of the mountains, whom she had never spent time with. This trip not only widened Madelyn’s vision for her family’s own business, it brought incredible healing and joy during a painful time. Watching Madelyn dance with her newfound friends and colleagues, it became clearer than ever that when we bring people together, the results are truly beautiful.

In the making…