Tocoromana & El Ahumao
Artisans from Tocoromana
Artisans from El Ahumao
Tocoromana and El Ahumao are Wayuu fishing communities near Camarones, a small town about 20 minutes west of the capital city Riohacha. Both communities are situated less than 10 minutes from La Guajira's Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, where tens of thousands of pink flamingos migrate each year.
Because of the tourism that the flamingo sanctuary draws to this part of La Guajira, as well as the fishing possibilities, about half of the artisans' husbands/partners in Tocoromana and Ahumao have jobs. This is not the case in the other communities we work with.
Several of the artisans in Tocoromana and Ahumao have been able to afford to go to school since they joined One Thread Collective, thanks to the microloans we offer and the fact that they are less remote than the other communities.
Our weaving team in Tocoromana, led by Sara Ipuana, has been working with One Thread Collective since we were established in 2020. In Ahumao, we work with two seperate weaving teams, one of which is led by Maribel Bouriyu, who has also been a part of One Thread Collective since the beginning. The other group of artisans is specialized in making Zuzus, a traditional oversized Wayuu tote bag that has a stretchier weave, making it the perfect bag for beach trips and market hauls.
Microloans for brighter futures
One Thread Collective sets aside 10% of each product purchase as seed funding for community-led projects.
The artisans in Tocoromana have decided to establish a revolving fund for micro loans to help the artisans and their families with medical expenses, student fees and other necessities, such as replacing a refrigerator and fixing up a fishing boat.