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Rurapuk Mothers
What is it?
Rurapuk Mothers is a group of 15 women who live in a poor
neighborhood of Lima called “Paraiso Alto”. This area has no running
water, and no sewage system. About 25% of the people do not have
electricity and most families live in one-room shacks with dirt
floors. The people who don’t have electricity use candles, or buy it
from a neighbor using an illegal connection. There are no doctors,
hospitals, or clinics in the immediate area and there are no parks
or green areas. The women of Rurapuk Mothers have been working
together since 2002 and make knitted finger puppets. The finger
puppets are sold to schools and individuals and are now available
through our website
www.perupuppets.com .
The women of Rurapuk Mothers knit in their houses and come together
twice a week under the direction of their coordinator who also lives
in Paraiso Alto. The women each have a minimum production of 35
puppets per month which undergo quality (and cuteness!) control
checks before being supplied to our buyers.
History
Rurapuk mothers started in 2002 with the idea of giving the women of
Paraiso Alto a little bit of income and some hope through making
dolls. However, the doll-making project was not successful. The
dolls were too complicated and most of the women did not know how to
use sewing machines. Then when things were looking quite bleak, one
of the members of Rurapuk Mothers, Brigida, began to make and copy
the knitted finger puppets which are widely available in the local
craft markets. Brigida made them better and cuter and began to teach
the women in the group how to knit them. The puppets have been a
grand success and now the women are able to supplement the family
income and have hope for the future.
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| Rurapuk
Mothers at work |
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| Paraiso
Alto |
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