Tinecas Workshop, recreating lives through recycled materials

Tinecas workshop is located in San Martin since it started in 1997. At the beginning the workshop was formed by 19 women who were the leaders of their families. Each of them offered their work, time, and dedication to create their products. At that time, they used to have lot of orders from international volunteers, visitors, and local businesses. Due to migration and not enough income being generated, currently Tineca workshop is made up of only 6 women that are producing  the few orders coming from CIS and Revy Fair Trade. The income generated by the workshop doesn't represent a main source of income anymore. The impact that pandemic brought along has reduce sales even more.  As a side job member are doing domestic work washing and ironing clothes to make ends meet. 

Some of the product that these crafty women maKe are jewelry using recycled materials like bike tires, seeds, and magazines additionally they make crocheted hammocks, and coin purses.

How did they started working with the rolled paper technique? 

“An American couple who came to the community started imparting sewing classes, but nobody was interested in participating.  Fortunately, Cyndy taught us a new way to design jewelry making small balls of rolled paper. Ever since, we've been using and improving this technique, watching YouTube tutorials to create different sizes of rolled paper balls”. 

What are Tinecas workshop is immediate needs? 

·  Promoting the workshop in social media.

·  “We are almost illiterate in social media and with difficulties to learn how to use devices for that matter. We do not have reliable internet access in the area."

·   How to get registered as an official micro entrepreneur business.

·  To expand our customer base to increase demand with foreign customers.

Please, support this workshop through CIS Online Store purchases. Remember that buying their products you're just not consuming but making a difference in their families right to have decent income to cover their immediate needs and at the same time you're empowering Salvadoran women.