TPH

In May 2010, NESsT’s Levantando Chile Fund began its first phase of support for artisans through Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción (TPH). TPH staff has been meeting with artisans since the earthquake to assess exactly what type of support is needed in order to return to work and resume income generation.

A member of NEssT's portfolio, Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción provides training and support for microentrepreneurs out of its office in Concepción, and also runs a fair trade store in downtown Concepción, called Manos del Bío Bío, which sells products made by the artisans in its group.

Through Levantando Chile Fund, artisans like Ramón Espinoza, whose property was severely damaged, will receive funds to rebuild and to purchase tools. Other artisans, who have had no income since the earthquake, will receive stipends to purchase supplies. NESsT will also help to find new markets for products outside the affected areas and to build back up Manos del Bío Bío's capacity to attract clients and meet demands.

Before the earthquake, Ramón sold his wooden educational toys through three strategies: (1) Manos de Bío Bío, (2) his own shop, and (3) directly to schools. Due to the earthquake, most of his clients have lost their purcahsing power and his storefront will be inaccessible for months, so he needs to find new points of sale.

Paulina Irene Corrillo Navarro learned about Trabajo Para Un Hermano when it offered a sewing workshop near her house seven years ago. She was new to the area, and went to the workshop. She has been sewing hand puppets ever since and selling them at TPH's Manos del Bío Bío store. The income from the sale of her puppets is critical now. Her husband, a fisherman, was forced to look for work in Valdivia, a town six hours south, because of the collapse of the fishing industry in his area after the earthquake. In spite of it all, Paulina continues to make bright pink rabbit puppets with big smiles.

NESsT will work closely with Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción and artisans such as Ramón and Paulina to:

1. Open access to markets for products outside the affected area

NESsT will help TPH seek new points of sales in Santiago and other regions less affected by the earthquake. The earthquake and tsunami have obliterated the purchasing priorities and buying power of the majority of residents in and around the regions most affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The earthquake and tsunami also severely reduced tourism, a major source of customers for TPH artisans that sell traditional Chilean crafts. The Levantando Chile Fund will work closely with the directors of TPH to help the organization find new markets for its artisans' products outside the region, both in other parts of Chile and around the world. This will include finding new points of sale in Santiago and strengthening relationships within the fair trade network.

2. Provide funding for Manos del Bió Bío

Unfortunately Manos del Bío Bío is located in the heart of downtown Concepción, in the most affected zone. The Levantando Chile Fund will provide one-time support to the store, to allow it to continue to purchase artisans’ products now that its revenue is down and it has a limited cash flow. This funding will provide immediate income to artisans with whom it has relationships, and build back up the supply of products.

Paulina Corrillo Navarro
Artisan from Concepción

3. Provide material and equipment to restore family

income

Thanks to the first wave of generosity from donors around the world, Levantando Chile Fund’s financial support for Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción will help 28 artisans resume work by providing funds for rebuilding workshops and purchasing tools and supplies.

Levantando Chile Fund’s initial contribution to Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción will “stop the bleeding” and allow artisans to begin to rebuild their income. But it will be a long road before these artisans resume steady, sufficient income.

The Levantando Chile Fund will continue to raise funds so Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción will be able to offer financial planning trainings for artisans to help them learn how to climb out of debt incurred by this natural disaster.

With the help of the Levantando Chile Fund and Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción, NEssT's goal is to leave the artisans of the region in even better conditions than before. Through the above efforts, NESsT’s staff, Board of Directors, the Fund’s Oversight Committee, and donors will join together to provide critical financial support that will rebuild livelihoods and allow the people of Concepción to resume safe, healthy and productive lives.

This is just the beginning!

We need your support. There is still much to be done to help the nearly two million people displaced by the devastating earthquake and tsunami to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

About NESsT
Founded in Chile in 1999 by U.S. and Chilean Social Entrepreneurs Lee Davis and Nicole Etchart, NESsT has provided capital and mentoring to over 2,000 social enterprises, transforming thousands of lives and demonstrating entrepreneurial solutions to critical social problems across Latin America and Central Europe.

www.nesst.org

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Trabajo Para Un Hermano-Concepción provides training and support for artisans in Concepción, one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake. TPH-Concepción runs a fair trade store called Manos del Bío Bío that sells the products made by the artisans in its group.

Read "Earthquake and tsunami caused market collapse in affected regions..." a full story from NESsT's Kate Raphael following her recent visit to TPH-Concepción:

"...When the earthquake hit, Ramón Espinoza Finchaeria’s business had just begun to return to normal. A neighbor’s error caused his workshop to burn down three years ago. Ramón is a woodworker who makes educational toys in a small space in downtown Concepción that serves as his storefront and, in the back, as his workshop.

..." >more

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