Women of the Andes

Approximately 55% of the Bolivian population belongs to Quechua or Aymara speaking indigenous groups descended from the Inca; another 30% are of mixed white and Amerindian descent. Many are subsistence farmers living in difficult-to-access areas in the Andes, where they herd alpaca and llamas, while others live in the barrios of Bolivian cities. Indigenous women were traditionally the heads-of-household, and controlled nearly all of the family's economic activities. Increasingly, however, contact with more “modern” male-dominated society has created tension within indigenous communities. Now, the women of the Andes face high levels of discrimination in both education and the workplace, and heightened violence in the domestic sphere. Lack of Spanish education has led to their exclusion from decision-making processes within the country. Alma de los Andes provides these women with a safe space and training in socially and economically empowering activities.

Alpaca Knitwear

The women of Alma de los Andes produce a line of high-quality accessories from alpaca wool, a warm, durable fiber softer than sheep's wool. Alpaca are raised by subsistence farmers in the Andes; their wool is a readily available local resource. It is hand-knit using traditional Aymara patterns to form the finished product. Capitalizing on a traditional skill allows these women to generate income without purchasing expensive equipment or modifying their lifestyles, while having a minimal impact on the environment. Profits are reinvested in the organization to pay for instructors, day care, meals, and materials. The knitting process is a social activity, enabling often-marginalized or abandoned women to gain a sense of community as well as economic security.

Region: South America

Capital: Sucre (constitutional); La Paz (administrative)

Population: 9,947,418 (2010)

Size: Slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Languages: Spanish (61%), Quechua (21%), Aymara (15%)

Major religion(s): Roman Catholic, Protestant

Literacy rate: Total 87%; Men 93%; Women 81% 

Education: Free and mandatory primary school education; schools are most often taught in Spanish, making it hard for indigenous children to move beyond the elementary school level

Primary school enrollment rate: 95%, though secondary enrollment drops to 74%; children in rural areas complete 4.2 years of school on average, while urban children complete 9.4

Poverty rate: 60% of the population lives below the poverty line

Did You Know: Aymara women in Bolivia have worn miniature bowler hats (which they call "bombins") since the 1920s, when a shipment of the then-European fashion staples were discovered to be too small for the European workers for whom they were originally intended!

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2010

Landlocked and isolated by its location in the Andes Mountains, Bolivia has one of the lowest standards of living in South America. Named after liberation revolutionary Simon Bolivar, it has suffered through over 190 failed governments since its independence from Spain in 1825. Economic inequality has increased racial tensions between those of European descent and the impoverished mestizos and indigenous peoples who make up over 80% of the population.

Indigenous Poverty

In 2005, Bolivia elected its first indigenous president, Evo Morales, who promised to bring social justice to Bolivia and end discrimination. Morales, who was re-elected in 2009, has implemented several controversial legislative policies aiming to give greater rights to indigenous groups. Nonetheless, his people continue to face great poverty. Most of the indigenous population lives in isolated rural areas, with little access to basic services such as health care or education. In the cities, they often meet with racism. Many speak languages other than Spanish, making 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, jobs that currently pay very little and offer little opportunity for advancement.

War on Drugs

In addition to facing discrimination and a lack of economic opportunity, indigenous Bolivians have found themselves caught in the middle of the war on drugs. Bolivia is the third largest producer of coca in the world. Coca can be consumed legally in Bolivia to cure headaches and curb hunger, or for use in religious ceremonies, but the plant is also used to make cocaine. To stop cocaine production and drug trafficking, Bolivia has been pressured by governments from around the world to destroy its coca farms. Many indigenous groups have refused to stop growing the plant because it is part of their heritage and one of their most lucrative sources of income. In response to their concerns, President Morales, a former coca union leader, has promised to permit coca cultivation 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 work alternatives such as the production of artisan goods.

For a great overview of the situation in Bolivia, check out this video interview with the Washington Office on Latin America and the Institute for Policy Studies.