Womans Artisans Program | The Nevada Building Hope Foundation

Since arriving in Ayacucho village in 2015, Barbara Land has built a lasting bond and deep friendship with the women of Ayacucho and San Juan de Yanayacu villages. Inspired by their strength and creativity, she worked alongside them to open new opportunities for them and their families. In February 2016, NBHF provided the funds to construct a women’s artisan house in Ayacucho village. By March, the house was complete – built by the hands of the women themselves—and it immediately became a place where the women could gather, collaborate, and create.

To nurture their growing talents, NBHF equipped the women’s artisan groups in both Ayacucho and San Juan de Yanayacu with shirts, sewing needles, elastic for bracelets, carving knives, and hand drills, etc. —simple but essential tools that allowed them to refine and expand their craft. For four consecutive years, Nevada artist Tia Flores journeyed to the communities to share her knowledge, leading workshops in weaving and carving and helping the women elevate their artistic skills.

The crafts they now produce carry stories of tradition, resilience, and beauty. More importantly, they provide a source of income that once seemed out of reach. This income enables the women to support their families and invest in their own futures. Just as importantly, it has given them a renewed sense of pride and empowerment, as they preserve and share their cultural heritage with the wider world.