A very good friend of mine who works with the international aid organisation Plan has asked me to ask youth (18-30 year olds) to respond to some statements about future youth unemployment, which is predicted to be very high by 2020.
Cesar, one of the artisans we work with, runs a workshop in his home to make jewellery to export from Ecuador. He works together with his wife Olga, who also looks after their shop in town, and they have three children. Cesar is 28 and he has a strong vision for the future of his family and his craft. Neither Cesar nor his wife received education above primary school level and skipped meals so their children could eat, just a few years ago.
His response to future youth unemployment is to teach young people about ‘artesania’ from a very young age, to open their mind with craftsmanship so they will be able to ‘invent new designs, because good designs can always be sold all over the world’. He talked about how when you are an artisan you see potential in everything, you could be looking at a stone in a field and find a use for it.
I really liked what Cesar said about what can be done about youth unemployment. Because what he talked about was not only about teaching young people how to fish, instead of providing them with fish, but also teach them how to use their creativity and encourage them how to envisage new things, innovate.
This picture shows the view from the workshop toward the street (you can see the bus passing) and the next door property. Cesar and Olga have now bought this land and are planning to extend their workshop there.
Love from Ecuador!
Chiara
Thanks Chiara for your reports from Latin America, you are doing a great job and your stories are soooo interesting. Keep on the good work!
Thanks!