Ovejomana
Yamile Vangrieken
Neyra Bouriyu
Tatiana Bonivento
Mariana Otilia Bouriyu
Lauris Bouriyu
Eneira Bouriyu
Adoraine Mengual
Blanca Rosa Bouriyu
Ovejomana is a remote Wayuu community located about one hour from Riohacha off an unmarked dirt road. All of the artisans we work with in Ovejomana are sole earners providing for their families with their earnings from One Thread Collective.
The community is only accessible via a 4x4 or motorcycle, since the road is in bad condition and is not maintained by the local government. During the rainy season it is washed out by a gushing river, making it extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) for people to get to and from the city to earn money and buy necessities.
To solve the issue of food insecurity, we built a bulk food co-op in Ovejomana that will be collectively managed by the seven artisans living there.
Selling necessities (rice, corn, oil) by the weight allows for even the most under-resourced people in the village to access food.
It also cuts down on waste, because villagers are encouraged to bring their own containers to fill up rather than purchasing food wrapped in plastic (e.g. rice bags) in the city. Plastic waste is a huge issue in these remote Wayuu communities because there is no infrastructure to deal with trash. It is either buried or burned.
Next, we hope to help the artisans of Ovejomana purchase the materials they need to revive their community garden (currently they need new fencing, hoses for irrigation, and seeds).
