Asociación de Artesanos Andinos (AAA) is a nonprofit association of traditional weavers from Bolivia's indigenous Quechua and Aymara communities. Serving as an umbrella organization of five weaver's associations, AAA reaches out to around 500 people, mostly women, through four community centers in poor and isolated communities of the Bolivian Highlands. By supporting the production and marketing of traditional textiles, AAA strives to ensure that members are able to improve their economic standing and increase their income. Believing that the participation of each member is to the benefit of all, AAA encourages all members to take an active role in matters concerning the organization. The association is a forum for weavers to gather together and support one another, allowing each person to have a stake in the community. True to their commitment to solidarity, all members of the association decide together how to divide profits from the sale of their art among members.

The Quechua and Aymara

The Quechua and Aymara are the two largest indigenous groups in Bolivia with 2.5 and 2 million members each. They are culturally and linguistically related groups, both descendents of the ancient Incan empire. Both communities have rich histories and traditions, but today these groups make up the poorest sections of Bolivian society due to a lack of economic and educational opportunities. The majority of Bolivians are subsistence farmers, miners, small traders or artisans, generating only low incomes for themselves and their families. Moreover, it is difficult for indigenous people to find skilled work because although public education does exist in Bolivia, without a national bilingual program, indigenous children who are not fluent in Spanish struggle to participate. Through AAA, Quechuan and Aymaran women have the opportunity to earn an income by putting their skills to use from the comfort of their homes, allowing them to continue juggling their multiple responsibilities-taking care of small children and managing subsistence farming. For these women, weaving is a treasured expression of their culture and an important tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Traditional Weavings

Using alpaca, sheep, and llama wool, the Quechua and Aymara employ ancient weaving techniques to produce textile pieces with traditional cultural designs inspired by community myths and spiritual beliefs. The Quechua and Aymara believe that their textiles tell the story of their history, reflecting important changes such as colonization. Each textile product represents careful dedication and takes at least 15 days to complete. Following a time-intensive process passed down from generation to generation, the Quechua and Aymara shear the wool from the desired animal, apply natural dyes, then begin the long manual process of spinning to create yarns, which are then used to weave beautiful and warm scarves, blankets, hats, and sweaters among other cold-weather accessories.

Region: South America
Capital: Sucre and La Paz**
Population: 9.1 million (2007)
Size: Three times the size of Montana
Independence: From Spain on August 6, 1825
Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
Languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara (all official)

Literacy Rate: Total 87%; Men 93%; Women 81%
Education: Free and mandatory primary school education***
Primary School Enrollment Rate: 95% (2004)****
Life Expectancy: Male 64 years; Female 69 (2007)
Infant Mortality Rate: 50.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2007)
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: About 4,900 people, or 0.1% of the Bolivian population (2003)
Poverty Rate: About 63% live below the national poverty line
People Living Under $2 a day: 42.2% (2004)
People Living Under $1 a day: 23.2% (2004)
Access to Clean Drinking Water: 85% (2004)
Access to Proper Sanitation: 46% (2004)
Doctor to Patient Ratio: 122 doctors for every 100,000 people (1990-2004)

Statistics from CIA World Factbook 2007 & UNDP Human Development Report 2006

** Bolivia is one of the few countries in the world with two official capital cities. Due to a political struggle in 1899, the government was split between the two locations and has remained like that ever since. Sucre is where the judicial branch is and La Paz is home to both the President and Congress.
*** Although Bolivia recognizes both Quechua and Aymara as official languages, schools are most often taught in Spanish, making it hard for indigenous children to learn and move beyond the elementary school level.
**** Although the primary rate of enrollment is high, children in rural areas on average complete about 4.2 yrs of school, while urban children complete 9.4, and the secondary enrollment rate drops down to 74%

While its largest city, La Paz, is the highest capital city in the world (11,800 feet above sea level), Bolivia has one of the lowest standards of living in South America. Since winning independence from Spain in 1825, Bolivia has suffered through over 190 failed governments, with the average government lasting less than a year. The unstable political system has not done much to help the people of Bolivia, leaving over 60 percent of the population in poverty. A history of racism has allowed the descendents of former Spanish colonists to become the wealthiest people in Bolivia while leaving many of the indigenous people and mestizos (over 80 percent of the population together) in poverty. This economic inequality has only increased the racial tension between citizens of European decent and indigenous communities.

In 2005, Bolivia elected Evo Morales, the country's first indigenous president, who has promised to bring social justice to Bolivia and end discrimination. Most of the indigenous population lives in rural, isolated areas of the country where they have little access to basic services such as health care or education. In the cities they face racism. The fact that many speak languages other than Spanish makes it difficult to attend school and obtain higher paying skilled jobs. Thus, most indigenous Bolivians continue to work as subsistence farmers, traders, artisans, or miners - all jobs that currently pay very little and offer little opportunity for advancement.

In addition to facing discrimination and lack of economic opportunity, indigenous people in Bolivia have recently found themselves caught in the middle of the war on drugs. Bolivia is the third largest producer of coca in the world (after Colombia and Peru). Although coca can be consumed legally in Bolivia for reasons such as curing headaches, curbing hunger, or for use in religious ceremonies, the plant is also used to make the illegal drug, cocaine. To stop cocaine production and drug trafficking, Bolivia has been pressured by governments from around the world, particularly the US, to destroy its coca farms. Many indigenous groups have refused to stop growing coca because it is part of their heritage and because, in some cases, it is the best way to earn a living. To support indigenous people, President Morales, a former coca union leader, has promised to allow coca growing while standing firm against cocaine production. In some areas of the country, organizations are assisting communities with the transition away from coca production by providing agricultural and work alternatives such as the production of arts and crafts.

For a great overview of the current situation in Bolvia, check out this video interview with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Institute for Policy Studies. Its about an hour long, but is very informative.