Paraguay, Teko Joja Kuña Rembiapope, Asuncion
Teko Joja Kuña Rembiapope and the Cooperative of the Weavers of Ñanduti were established by the Good Shepherd Sisters in Asuncion, Paraguay, to assist poor craftswomen to earn a fair price for their work.
Teko Joja Kuña Rembiapope works with about 120 poor families, and offers about 280 women the access to skill development and an opportunity to join employment projects where they receive just payment for their work. There are about 52 members of the Weavers' Cooperative. The women make beautiful tableware and also cotton blouses which are delightfully cool in our summers.
A small Micro Credit Scheme gives additional assistance to the women. As a priority, special attention is paid to young women in the hope of their being empowered through their craftwork.
In recent years, the indigenous Maca people of Paraguay have been assisted to develop and sell their woven products - attractive, brightly coloured bags and backpacks.
The project also enables women to have necessary medical treatment, especially for eye problems which are very common in craftswomen. Visual problems are caused by long hours working on their handiwork, usually in difficult conditions (e.g. inadequate lighting at night-time).
Here is a selection of their products
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Ñanduti, or spider-web lace is the best known of Paraguay’s traditional crafts. The lace has its origins in the Canary Islands and was brought to Paraguay by the Spanish. The local Guarani people, the largest of Paraguay’s indigenous groups, adopted Ñanduti and made it their own, using motifs drawn from nature. There are many different styles and designs, but the basic design is that of a circle with rays coming from the centre as from the sun. A large piece, such as might be used for a wedding veil, may take up to a year to make. The legend of the spider woman comes from Greek mythology. Arachne, a weaver of great skill, challenged the goddess Pallas Athene to a weaving contest and proved herself a superior weaver to Athene. Fearing the wrath of the goddess, she killed herself. Athene gave her back her life, but changed her into a spider, condemned to weave forever.
