Otavalo, Ecuador

Partners Since 2012

About

For Señora Mónica (Móny to those who love her), leading this special
workshop is more than a job or even a way to impact her community. It’s also a
way to carry on her late husband Luis’ legacy. Luis founded the workshop in
2008 after he lost his job. He began to tinker with the tagua seeds that fall
from the palm trees in Ecuador and realized that by carving and sanding them,
he could create something beautiful to sell in the local market.

Other artisans began to ask for his high-quality polished seeds, and soon his
business began to grow. Tragically, Luis passed away in 2016–but Móny was
determined to carry on his work. She has continued to grow the workshop as a
means of providing safe and well-paying work to other families in their
community.

  • Otavalo, Ecuador

    Nestled in the Andes, Ecuador is known for its ecological beauty and
    diversity. Its varied landscape features active volcanoes, rainforests,
    beaches, and sprawling Incan ruins. Its main exports include agricultural
    products like cacao, bananas, and flowers. Ecuador is a country that treasures
    its natural resources–in fact, it was the first nation to officially recognize
    the rights of nature in its constitution in 2008. Ecuador's indigenous groups
    make up 25% of the population; their cultures form a unique tapestry of
    flavors, textiles, and languages. 

Flourishing World Initiative Grant Recipient

  • A few years ago, Móny’s workshop required some improvements to keep her Artisans safe, such as a new roof and electrical rewiring.
  • With a grant from Noonday, the workshop’s electrical was safely rewired and its tarp roof was replaced with steel, protecting the Artisans from rainwater and the hot sun.
  • In the past, the group did not have the resources or the training to fix or replace these hazards–but now, they have made their dream of a safe workspace a reality.

Stories of Flourishing

  • Sra. Móny
    Prior to her husband’s passing, Móny had only played a peripheral role at the workshop. But since then, she has risen up to become an inspiring leader. Móny says that her work with tagua “is my life…tagua is everything.”
  • Móny
    Through this work, she is able to support her family, including her four daughters, sister, and cousins who all depend on her. Móny has high hopes for the future and dreams of providing even more local families with life-changing work.
  • Medardo
    Medardo is an Artisan who takes a great deal of pride in his work. He has been a part of Móny’s close-knit workshop since 2019, and has proven himself to be a trustworthy team member with an exceptional eye for detail. Medardo’s role is to achieve the right tagua shape with the most exact measurements possible. And his commitment to excellence has not only earned him a reputation for reliability–it has also allowed him to provide his wife and young son with a better life.