Giving Back

Tikanchay is dedicated to supporting the artisan community in Peru in a meaningful way. Our commitment stems from both the deeply felt affection we have for the people of Peru and from our conviction that we have a responsibility to give back to those communities that are still struggling for self-sufficiency in what is becoming a smaller and smaller world.

We made donations in two areas of Peru last year. In response to the devastating earthquake last August, we looked beyond our commitment to artisans and made a donation to The Connecticut Peruvian Relief Fund, organized to build and maintain an immediate medical care center near Luanahuana, Peru. The second donation was to the Juan Tomas Tuiro Center for Occupational Education of Cusco which provides training in different artisan traditions to very poor residents of Cusco, many of them young mothers who arrive at the school with their infants and toddlers in tow. 

When needed, we provide working capital to artisans so they can purchase materials and grow their businesses. We seek opportunities to support artisan training centers, especially in the small villages and provinces of Peru. As always, we will share news of our progress and we encourage you to check back here and in Elaine's Journal for future updates.