It's Women's History Month, and throughout March, we've been celebrating all the amazing women who have helped build Andean Collection, and profiling those who continue to contribute to its success. We continue with Ledi and Lilibeth, a mother-daughter team from Christian and Viviana's workshop. Lilibeth was the first to join the workshop, and her mom Ledi joined shortly after. Together, they help create Andean Collection's best-selling items, the tagua bracelets. Ledi has 5 children, and Lilibeth is the second oldest. Through the support of Andean Collection's scholarship program, Lilibeth recently finished a vocational course to become a beautician. Her next professional venture will be a ‘Fomi’ course, in which she will learn how to make birthday and event decorations. Chiara, AC's Non-Profit and Environmental Resource Manager, visited Ledi and Lilibeth and chatted about what its like to work so closely with each other, and their unique take on the role of women in Ecuador.
What's it like to work together? Ledi, for you to work with your daughter--and Lilibeth, for you to work with your mother?
Lilibeth: It’s nice, but at the beginning it was hard for me because I had to train my mom and teach her how to do things around the workshop. I got really impatient with her.
Ledi: I'm glad I work with my daughter because I always know where she is and how she's doing. I know she is treated well, and is well respected and valued. Plus, we get along well.
What do you like most about your work?
Ledi: I I like assembling the necklaces and bracelets the most.
Lilbeth: I like sorting the tagua pieces to find the right ones before dying them.
Walk me through a typical day for you?
Ledi: Christian and Viviana are flexible with my work hours, so I'm able to work and take care of the house and look after my children. I typically work from 8am to 11am, then I go home to make lunch for the family, and return to work at 2pm and finish the day around 5pm. If there is still more work to do, I can stay a bit longer because my house is just a short walk from the workshop.
Lilibeth: I typically work from 8am to 12pm, have lunch with my mom and siblings, and then work from 2pm to 6pm.
What are your thoughts of the role in women in Ecuador? Do you think it's changed over the years?
Ledi: The truth is, my life is not very different from my mother’s. The only major difference is that my dad hit my mother. My father had a drinking problem and was very abusive, whereas my husband is much better. Otherwise my life is very similar to that of my mother, my main role is to take care of the house and the children.
Lilibeth: A lot of things have changed, like women being able to work and defend themselves, but machismo still exists here unfortunately.
What is the most valuable thing your mother taught you?
Ledi: To cook, to wash and look after the children, basically how to be a good house wife.Lilibeth: To respect others, and to demand respect for yourself. She's also taught me a lot about perseverance.
Do you have a female role model?
Ledi: my mother, because she taught me how to be a good house wife.
Lilibeth: I don’t have female role models.
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| Ledi helps assemble AC's Classic Tagua Bracelets in turquoise and tomato. |
Lilibeth: It’s nice, but at the beginning it was hard for me because I had to train my mom and teach her how to do things around the workshop. I got really impatient with her.
Ledi: I'm glad I work with my daughter because I always know where she is and how she's doing. I know she is treated well, and is well respected and valued. Plus, we get along well.
What do you like most about your work?
Ledi: I I like assembling the necklaces and bracelets the most.
Lilbeth: I like sorting the tagua pieces to find the right ones before dying them.
Note: Ledi and Lilibeth work in the ‘armadoras’ workshop, where jewelry is assembled. The other half of the workshop is where the tagua pieces are carved, which is called 'fabricar'.
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| Over the past year Lilibeth has learned the complicated process of dying the tagua seeds. This is an important step for Lilibeth in her personal and professional development. |
Ledi: Christian and Viviana are flexible with my work hours, so I'm able to work and take care of the house and look after my children. I typically work from 8am to 11am, then I go home to make lunch for the family, and return to work at 2pm and finish the day around 5pm. If there is still more work to do, I can stay a bit longer because my house is just a short walk from the workshop.
Lilibeth: I typically work from 8am to 12pm, have lunch with my mom and siblings, and then work from 2pm to 6pm.
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| Lilibeth (back), works alongside her co-assistant artisan, Cristina. |
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| Ledi, 2nd from L, helps Viviana pack up the Riverbed Bracelets in lime. |
Ledi: The truth is, my life is not very different from my mother’s. The only major difference is that my dad hit my mother. My father had a drinking problem and was very abusive, whereas my husband is much better. Otherwise my life is very similar to that of my mother, my main role is to take care of the house and the children.
Lilibeth: A lot of things have changed, like women being able to work and defend themselves, but machismo still exists here unfortunately.
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| Viviana's grandmother Barbara Jesus Sanchez, Lilibeth and Viviana's mother. |
Ledi: To cook, to wash and look after the children, basically how to be a good house wife.Lilibeth: To respect others, and to demand respect for yourself. She's also taught me a lot about perseverance.
Do you have a female role model?
Ledi: my mother, because she taught me how to be a good house wife.
Lilibeth: I don’t have female role models.
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