From one of our partners in Chile:
Dear Friends,
After several days of attempting to contact producers in the most devastated areas of Chile, we are now able to send the first message with preliminary information about artisans who were seriously impacted by the earthquake and tsunami. The artisans listed below have lost their home and/or parts of their workshops, tools and materials but are currently in a position to start working. For these producers, receiving new orders is urgent and essential in accessing a steady income that will finance repairs and new constructions. This is the first message of a list of producers who find themselves in the condition to work and are in dire need of orders. Soon, we will be sending another list promoting products from other workshops.
Concurrently, we are reviewing the situation of the producers and workshops that have lost almost everything. We will be assessing the damages and then seeking resources to finance reconstruction. This will be, unfortunately, a long and sensitive process. These are workshops that need financial assistance now to rebuild and may not be able to work for several months. We will be sending more information about these producers when we have a clearer idea of what is needed.
We hope you can take a moment to read through this list and browse the product links of these affected producers. Please send us your feedback and, if possible, potential orders. We deeply appreciate all of the interest, compassion and solidarity that all of you have shown in spirit of Fair Trade.
We look forward to your response.
In solidarity,
The Comparte Team
Taller Barritos (Santiago Espinoza)
This workshop is situated in the small town Tomé in the VII Region. This area is still without adequate access to food. The tsunami pushed water all the way into the plaza where Santiago Espinoza carried out his work. Now the workshop is destroyed along with 70% of his work. Everything is reparable and can be reconstructed. They will be ready to work after the second week of March.Sergio Díaz
The family of this workshop is safe but has lost the roof of their house and everything that was inside of their workshop, including, products ready for shipment. Luckily, the molds that are used in their work were not affected. With these molds they are able to continuing working.
Sergio Maldonado
The house where the family lives resisted well the impacts of the earthquake. However, the town is still without water and the workshop that completely collapsed needs to be rebuilt. They want to get back to work soon and in 15 days should be able to work at their normal capacity. At this moment, new orders are essential.
José Lastra
The family is safe but the ovens of their workshop are broken. They can begin to repair them in the next few days but do not have the funds to start. Only through orders and advanced payments will they be able to finance the reconstruction of their workshop.
Rayen Caven
This workshop lost everything. The house is now in ground along with the workshop. Very few items were saved but within a week or two the family will be able to work again. At the moment, they are living in tents and rationing food that is being transported to their community, Cauquenes.
Taller Rosa Sanueza
The workshop of Rosa Sanueza is collaboration between her family and other producers in the city of Talcahuano, which was devastated by the earthquake. They work with fish leather but at the moment many of the “caletas,” docking areas of artisanal fishers, are not being used or are entirely lost to the sea. The workshop collapsed and so has the city’s commerce. Nothing is open. Rosa was also personally injured after a television fell. Despite this damage, they all wish to start working again as soon as possible.
Gladys Muñoz
Gladys and her family are safe but their house is left inhabitable. The workshop will be moved, as it was also very damaged. It is possible to work out of a space loaned by a neighbor. All orders are crucial at this moment since they are also without a local market to sell their products given the extensive destruction of Concepción.
Jeannette Arcos
The family is safe but their Talcahuano workshop was completely taken over by the tsunami that completely flooded this small town. They lost all materials and finished products. Luckily, they were able to save some tools that will help them start up production again. They are ready to receive orders.
Michael Nova
Michael and his family are safe and are looking to work through a great amount of material loss. The laminator of their Concepción workshop is broken along with a sizeable amount of finished products that they had in stock.
José González
This workshop lost everything. They were in the town Arauco before being displaced to Lota. They can no longer live in the neighborhood where they were living. They are now looking for a house and to reestablish their workshop in Lota. With the proper tools and materials they would be able build a new workshop. With new orders, they would be able to start this project and rebuild their lives.
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