Handcrafted Art from Women of Highland Ecuador
Determined to Thrive: The Yambiro Women’s Rug Hooking Group
_____________________________________________________________________________________
In the Indigenous community of Yambiro–where women often lack employment opportunities–artisans have joined together and learned the craft of rug hooking to earn additional income to support their families. The women’s group meets weekly to create the rug hooking pieces and continue to grow their skills. Tandana began to support the training of the rug hookers and this group in early 2026.
“Getting together lets us spend time doing something different. Not even the rain has stopped us from meeting–rain or shine, we stay together. Plus, while we’re working, we talk about everything, we laugh, and we have a good time.” -Virginia Perugachi
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Meet the Artisans
By purchasing a beautiful hooked rug, you are supporting motivated women in rural Ecuador
Virginia Perugachi
Virginia and her husband, Lorenzo, live together with their two children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren on the outskirts of Yambiro. She grows different fruits and vegetables for her family to eat and sometimes to sell at market when there is a good harvest. She hosts the women in her home for the Rug Hooking Group’s meetings once a week. Her big dream is to one day display her rugs and other goods in her home to share her culture with visitors and earn extra income.
Susana Perugachi
Susana and her husband, Pedro Manuel, live with nine of their 12 children in Yambiro. Suzana grows crops, such as corn and blackberries. To increase their income, she happily joined the Rug Hooking Group. Although her hands trembled the first time she held the needle, and she didn’t believe she would ever be able to learn this new skill, she now is happily improving her abilities. She enjoys talking, laughing, and sharing stories with the other women. “We are learning from each other and I really like that,” she says.
Maria Margarita Cabascango
Maria lives with four children, her husband, Rodrigo Quilumbango, and his mother in Yambiro. Having a daughter with disabilities, she is not able to go far for work. She has appreciated learning to make rugs as it is an income-generating activity she can do at home. After learning the craft herself, Maria’s daughter is helping her create the rug designs. Maria says this is because, “She draws better than I do.”
Josefina Oyagata
Josefina lives with her husband, José Manuel, and five children in a small home in Yambiro. She also has 13 grandchildren. She grows fruits and vegetables for her family, and has both a pig and guinea pigs on her property. Like many of the women, she joined the Women’s Association of Yambiro to accomplish her dream of having irrigation water. Making rugs with the other women is another step forward she is taking to improve her family’s economic situation.
Aurora Perugachi
Aurora lives with her husband, five children, and three grandchildren in Yambiro, close to her sister Virginia’s house. She grows blackberries, strawberries, and vegetables to eat and earn money, as well as embroiders traditional blouses for herself and her family. While she first thought she would be too old to learn how to make rugs, she is now enjoying the new experience and feels happy she can work and share this craft with the other women.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rich and Proud: The Kichwa Otavalo Culture
Local life reflected through art
The Kichwa Otavalo people maintain deep connections to their Indigenous identity and traditions. Speaking both Kichwa and Spanish, they have learned to negotiate the power structures of their country while retaining pride in their heritage. Nature has deep significance to the Kichwa Otavalo–the father and mother volcanoes, Imbabura and Cotacachi, stand guard over the valleys and hills where families maintain deep connection to this land and place. Many of these rugs reflect scenes from highland Ecuador, including the beautiful natural world and vibrant culture of the region. The rug hookers offer a wide variety of designs, and may also be able to create rugs with a design relevant for your organization, business or family.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Rooted in Community
At home in Yambiro, Ecuador
It is in this community that Virginia, Aurora, Maria, Suzana, and Josefina live, work, raise their families, and craft their rugs. Yambiro is an Indigenous community located about 20 minutes outside of Otavalo in Ecuador’s Imbabura Province. It is a close-knit community made up of about 700 members, many of whom have lived there for generations. Many residents grow crops, raise animals, and maintain strong connections to the land. Yambiro is one of many Indigenous communities surrounding Otavalo, and is nestled on a hillside with views of surrounding volcanoes. The Yambiro community created CPRY Women’s Association to advance aspirations of local women through initiatives that support economic growth and nutrition; its members were excited to learn to become rug hookers.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please contact info@tandanafoundation.org if you are interested in purchasing a hooked rug. Thank you for your support!
