Gender Equality Mexico Project #27891

Employing Rural Women

by Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda I.A.P

Project Report | Nov 17, 2017
Establishing New Points of Sale

By Olga Lidia Roldan Padron | Head of the Sierra Gorda Ecotours

New product exposition place

During the past quarter, the members of the artisan ceramic workshop “Las Mariposas” have improved their production and quality; they re-distributed mold and product manufacturing activities amongst themselves, increasing the level of production. They also introduced new painting designs that were well received by their market clients and sold their decoration products to primary schools in the region for handcraft classes. The workshop has two new members who have already received training in mold making, casting, and decoration, and was recently visited by a few groups.

On October 27th the women visited Centro Tierra Sierra Gorda and participated in the training workshop entitled “Basic Management for Microenterprises”. They were provided with tools that enable them to adequately manage their income and expenses, and keep a good record of their sales and purchases. During the training workshop they met other members of the Sierra Gorda Service Network and as a result of this exchange two small restaurants that form part of the Flavor Trail made an order of personalized ceramic plates and cups. Furthermore, they made an agreement with Restaurant Las Manzanitas located in Pinal de Amoles, where they will now establish an additional point of sale.

In October, the women also exhibited and sold their products at the Festival de las Huastecas that took place in Jalpan de Serra. They also agreed to sale their products on a regular basis in tourist areas in Escanelilla, Pinal de Amoles, and Union of Guadalupe in Aquismón, San Luis Potosí.

Currently they are fixing-up a warehouse, where they will install a rustic style exhibition room with a space for food preparation and will offer this additional service to visitors who want to participate in the ceramic production workshops.

New space for food preparation

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Aug 21, 2017
Updates from "Las Mariposas"

By Olga Lidia Roldan Padron | Head of the Sierra Gorda Ecotours

Ceramic Products in "Las Mariposas"

Located in Soledad de Guadalupe, Querétaro, the artisan ceramic workshop “Las Mariposas” faces high production costs; the women are required to change working molds every two months, given that with one mold they can only produce 100 pieces. Even though the working molds can be used afterwards, the quality of products is reduced and women sometimes lose up to 40% of products that are made using an expired working mold.

Each working mold is made using artisan primary molds in the state of Guanajuato. To reduce production costs, the members of the workshop recently received training and learned how to make their own working molds. They acquired six primary molds, which helped them to significantly improve the quality of their products, reduce losses during the production process, and, most importantly, decrease operation costs. The members of the group have also updated the prices, which have already been applied at various points of sale in the Sierra Gorda. Furthermore, women are actively looking for new market opportunities outside of the region.

It is hoped that in the future they will be able to acquire all the necessary primary molds to guarantee the elaboration of more than 50 products that they currently offer, as well as to cover special orders of the products with higher demand.

The members of the group also participated in a workshop that took place in the facilities of the Centro Tierra Sierra Gorda in Jalpan de Serra and focused on the analysis of their micro-business using a SWOT analysis framework. Besides reinforcing their sense of belonging to the group and identifying opportunities, members of the group were able to generate alliances with other projects that form part of the microenterprise network in the Sierra Gorda.

Currently, the artisans are renovating the space where they showcase their products and host visitors who wish to experience their craft. For example, they improved lighting, which enables them to carry out their activity with greater ease. Every two months they also replace their molds, donating old ones to their neighbors in a form of gypsum blocks. These blocks are crushed and used to fill the streets or improve public spaces.

Their products have been showcased at various promotional events both in the Sierra Gorda and in Santiago de Querétaro where they have been well accepted by the public.

Product development process

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