Maria Angela Tacuri Guaman and her husband Pascual Tacuri Anaguarqui live in San Pablo, Ecuador. When they got married, they bought a tiny plot of land along with a few cows, sheep and alpacas.
They sold milk and vegetables and tended their small herd. Maria knit hats and other items to sell to climbers and guides passing through on their way to Chimborazo.
They were just barely getting by until Heifer came into their lives — then, things finally began to change for the better. Maria and Pascual have participated in two Heifer projects; one offered training to help farmers get more value from their livestock, the second deepened their knowledge to include sorting and spinning wool from alpacas.
In Heifer’s work with participants and the community, we observed many members were skilled in knitting. This became an opportunity to grow their skills that would allow Maria and others to earn additional income. Novices learned to make simple items like scarves and shawls, while experienced knitters like Maria made more complex garments like mittens and socks. Working with experts from around the world, they also began to design products with greater market appeal.
Maria is full of gratitude — to you and other Friends of Heifer® who helped provide training, opportunity and a steady income to her family. "I feel so happy I am working," she said. "One day, I would like to have my own store."
Your monthly gifts, steady and reliable, help women like Maria turn lifelong skills into promising business enterprises that create brighter futures for their children and grandchildren.
