Programs / Business / Communities / Pueblo Nuevo / Sondao y Quisikir «

  General Information

   Business Idea: a women's group of artisans that want to

   improve the presentation of their products in order to

   attract more turists and increase their sales.

   Communtiy Name: Pueblo Nuevo

   Community Members Involved: Jenia Bipuro (President),

   +9 others

    Date Established: 2011

Business Description

This group of women artisans from the Wounaan indigenous community of Pueblo Nuevo decided to unite and work together in order to sell various traditional crafts that they make by hand. They do not have a formal storefront, but during community activities they present their products at the community center. The products that they offer include: chaquiras, fans, baskets, masks, parumas (traditional Embera/Wounaan colorful skirts), and at the end of each event, they split all profits equally.  In addition to the sale of handicrafts, the group also sells chorizos (sausages) and tamales (corn flour stuffed with meat, wrapped in a plantain leaf) during community activities. As a group they do not have their own account in the community bank, but have expressed interest in doing so. Currently the group treasurer keeps the group's money in her home. Of the 10 women that make up the group, 5 are currently members of the community bank.

In the last brigade they learned sales and negotiation techniques. After utilizing their techniques, they have been able to sell their products in other communities with success.

Current Status:

Business Information:

• They earn the majority of their sales during community celebrations and they split all profits equally.
• Among the products they offer include: baskets, masks, fans, parumas (traditional skirts), and chaquira
• (intricate wrapped bracelets made out of small beads).
• The women have strong connections to eachother and the group. They have developed their own logo and slogan.
• Each member of the group makes about $40 per week.
•  Each member of the group sells their products from their individual houses, and then report their earnings to the treasurer.

Business Opportunity:

•  All members of the artisan group are community members of Pueblo Nuevo, meaning they all know eachother and have a close relationship with one another, which facilitates communication and organization  as a group.
• While only 5 of the 10 women are members of the community bank, this meanas that there are opportunities to increase the amount of members.
• They are interested in opening their own account within the community bank as an organized group, meaning they can accrue interest on their savings and apply for loans to increase their capacity of production, for example.

Business Obstacles: 

•  Education levels are generally low.
• Only 5 group members belong to the community bank, so the rest of the group has not yet had access to basic financial education.
• They do not currently keep track of their earnings, expenses, and costs, whether as a group or at an individual level. Previous brigades have come across this issue as well and they have suggested re-teaching this to them wil be helpful so they can slowly grasp the importance and understand how to keep track of their expenses.

Your Task 

• Review past brigade deliverables under 'Brigade Log' below.  Brigade deliverables let students know what they did with the client on the last brigade and what recommendations they have for future brigades.
• First, get to know your client and his/her business.  Build a trust between you and your client
• Learn about his/her business’ strengths and weaknesses
• The women expressed interest in learning about a few different topics: money management (both savings and revenues), trainings in marketing, promotion, and sales in order to improve the way they present their products to the public.
• Based on your recommendations, update/supplement this business profile.

Brigade Log

Visit Other Programs in Pueblo Nuevo

Global Brigades strives to implement a model of Holistic Development in communities through a system of health, economic, and education initiatives in order to strategically meet a community's development goals. Learn more about the other programs being implemented in Pueblo Nuevo:

Dental Environmental Human Rights Medical  MicrofinancePublic Health