Recently we had a group of students from Portland State University visit our shop in Managua. After we welcomed the ten students to Esperanza en Acción we talked about the work that we do, our connection with artisans, the importance of fair price, and our partners in the international fair trade market. We also took the students to meet directly with a few of our artisans, where they were able to hear their stories and see them work first hand. We hope that through these experiences the students gain a greater understanding of the work the artisans put into their products and the difficulties they face in getting their products to consumers. This is one of the reasons why the connection between artisans and Esperanza en Acción is key. Esperanza en Acción spent the week working with five students in a variety of capacities. Together we met with an organization in hopes of expanding our current partnerships. Esperanza en Acción worked directly with students in creating additional marketing materials, such as brochures and banners. The students have also assisted with updating our website and creating social media connections.

Working with students from Portland State University has been a good experience that has helped us increase our current knowledge and uses of technology with social media. We will continue to utilize these tools to manage the organization.

Thank you to our partner, Portland State University. 

Here are the students listening to the Board of Director member and Portland State University professor Dr. White talk about the importance of fair trade and artisan crafts. Yamileth Perez, Director of the Artisan Program is to the left of the Professor. 

The students also had the pleasure of giving a presentation to the General Director, Samuel Reyes, of Rainbow Network organization in hopes of expanding our current partnerships.

By Kelly Sellers
As an American community development student from Portland State University, spending a week with Esperanza en Acción was an incredible opportunity. Shadowing director Yamileth Perez through her daily activities shed light on the sheer amount of work that goes into supporting local artisans in Nicaragua. Perez´s strong, supportive relationships with these artisans help support economic capacity and cultural preservation within Nicaragua. Visits to traditional markets, which cater to tourists, and artisan homes highlighted stark differences in quality, price, and treatment of local artisans.

At first glance, traditional markets in Managua, Masaya, and Granada seem to actively support a diversity of artisan wares. Through working with Perez, the actual reality of these markets became much clearer. Focused mostly on pottery, Perez pointed out the lessened quality of many of these vases, bowls, and other crafts. Uneven paint, inconsistent carving, and fingerprints were just some of the flaws in these pieces. After meeting artisans in their homes, the contrast in design creativity and execution became very apparent. Local artisans spoke about the originality of their designs, stating that artisans are not supposed to copy each other’s artwork. Learning about the process from start to finish also exposed other problems with the durability of many pieces sold in the traditional markets.

By Andrea Wilson
Human connection has the power to inspire each of us to change how we interact with and affect the world around us. That’s why for Yamileth Perez and Esperanza en Acción, supporting artisans in Nicaragua doesn’t only mean building their capacity to obtain better prices and broader markets for their goods. It includes forging human connections between Nicaraguan artisans and foreign students.

This summer, four students of Community Development at Portland State University learned about Esperanza en Acción’s work and ceramic artists they aid by shadowing director Yamileth Perez in her work.

Students got to meet artisans in their homes, make friends, learn about the pottery making process, and, as Yamileth says, “Hear the voice of the artisans” supported by Esperanza en Acción. The organization has helped small artisan businesses increase their income and sustainability, by providing training in business management, teaching them to ask a fair price and what that means, and connecting them to broader markets through student trips like that of Portland State, and through the shop in Managua where Esperanza en Acción sells art at no cost to artisans.