EcoArte is a group of women with skills in embroidery, weaving, and sewing, trained and committed to the values of cooperation. Originating from the training spaces at the Loyola Center in Santiago de Cuba, these women came together in 2019 to work on diverse tasks rooted in the principles of solidarity and communal economy. This initiative began with students and teachers from the Loyola Center, a part of the Comparte Network.
EcoArte primarily uses recycled materials, breathing life and utility into items others discard. Thus, their creations offer both social benefits and environmental protection.
Their mission is to “create a space for creativity, learning, and sisterhood through handcrafted work to improve quality of life and promote human values.”
In five years, the group has made significant social contributions, especially among vulnerable sectors, such as elderly individuals living in isolation. There is a spirit of sisterhood among all the women, evident in their socially sensitive approach to clients, allies, and beneficiaries who receive donations, such as health personnel, daycares, schools, and others in Santiago and beyond. The courses they teach have become a wonderful trade school, fostering small businesses and boosting family economies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, these entrepreneurial women joined the municipal public health authorities in crafting essential protective gear for healthcare personnel and the public.
The women of EcoArte practice solidarity and community-based economy with both their hearts and hands.
With information from desarrollo-alternativo.org