Camari Artisan Story-Ecuador

Camari is a Quechua word meaning "gift"; and true to its name, it is also a fair trade organization that has been a gift for many people of Ecuador.  Camari, a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), was founded in 1981 to address the problems inherent in the marketing of small-scale agriculture and the production of handicrafts in the rural and marginalized communities of Ecuador.

Camari helps artisans find access to financial credit, training, and technical assistance; yet from the beginning they have understood that this alone was not a sufficient recipe for success. Without direct access to international and fair trade markets, artisans and farmers are forced to sell to intermediaries at prices that cannot provide the basic necessities of life.

Since their inception, Camari has grown to establish numerous shops in major cities throughout Ecuador, providing access to international markets, and alternative employment to more than 6,500 artisan and farmer families in 18 of Ecuador's 22 provinces.

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