Awajun Artisans Install Internet

In 2015 a number of you contributed to a campaign to help Awajun Artisans install internet in their artisan center – the only internet service in their community of Urakusa in the Peruvian Amazon. At that time, the projected cost of a satellite internet set up was upwards of $15,000 USD. We were able to raise over $4,000 that the artisans saved in their organization’s bank account, until the total amount needed was collected. Unable to complete the necessary funding for such a set up, the project was on hold.

The artisans asked other organizations to pitch in, without success. The organizations did not have funding for such projects. But the Awajun artisans saw the importance of having internet access in their organization to advance their work and reach a broader market.

Head artisan Balbina Paukai, seeing that other towns had internet via a smaller satellite dish, inquired about it. She found out that, at this time, there were more affordable satellite installations available. The money they had saved in their account was sufficient to pay for the installation and months of internet service. Inspired, Balbina contacted an internet provider. Last month the satellite dish was installed and internet service was activated at their artisan center. It works with electricity produced by the solar panels that you also helped purchase with your donation.

This internet service will be a useful tool for the artisans, as well as for teachers, community members and students that will use it. Extra laptop computers will be added for this purpose. Non-artisan internet users will be charged a nominal fee per use to help pay for the ongoing service.

Your financial support has made this major milestone a reality for the Awajun artisans. The artisans are grateful to all of you who contributed and who continuously support them through the purchase of their exquisite work. We all thank you for making this possible.

Visit our shop to buy the Awajun line and other artisan collections.

Head artisan Balbina Paukai at left.


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