In Peru, there are over 80,000 artisans, 13,600 of which come from rural communities in Cusco, and most of them women.

The Coronavirus pandemic unfortunately highlighted the vulnerability of the country's informal employment sector - with many artisans having no savings and needing to continue working, despite lockdowns and curfews. Without savings or social protection, their situation deteriorated. As well as the challenges brought by the pandemic, artisans also face a lack of access to education, and this, alongside the gradual loss of valuable cultural heritage, means it’s hard for them to benefit from the tourism value chain. This leads to less economic independence for women as well as lack of empowerment.

So, the project aims empower female artisans from the Patacancha basin who lost their income and are eager to be trained so that they can improve their skills and have more chances to strengthen their cooperative. The "Cooperativa Artesanal Originarios Ollantaytambo" is a cooperative of artisans in Peru’s Sacred Valley. It has more than 90 female weavers from the five indigenous rural communities located in the Patacancha basin in district of Ollantaytambo, the only Living Inca Town.

TUI Colourful Cultures Peru will train 135 artisans in technical and production skills as well as the socio-emotional skills they need to connect with others through e-commerce platforms to sell their goods. It will also connect them with six different cultural events, local fairs and exhibitions in order to create a portfolio of buyers for them. In total, one cooperative and three local associations will be supported and will also receive help to develop a business plan, acquire of seed capital and reach a breakeven point for their businesses.

The project is a unique opportunity to provide the female artisans of this unique Inca town with the transformative tools to manage and sustain their own cooperative, creating unique products that reinforce their identity and contribute to the diversification of family income and their economic autonomy. The project will also tailor digital technology to better serve the local entrepreneurs and engage the community through public-private sector cooperations and the recruitment of volunteers to develop digital technology for sales and the promotion of the artisans' products among friends and families.

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