Sibimbe
In 2013 the CCJ founded Sibimbe, a women’s sewing cooperative in San Eduardo, Ecuador. This social enterprise partners with Escuela Anne Stevens, where it is housed. Sibimbe launched its business by creating healing oil pouches for Thistle Farms. They have expanded their work to produce a variety of items for Shared Trade, and also liturgical items for Cokesbury. The Reverend Gina Angulo, priest at the church in San Eduardo and spokesperson for Sibimbe, says, "The purpose of this cooperative is to provide decent work and to improve the quality of life for women. It is our hope that in the future there will be many more women that can be a part of Sibimbe." In an area where teen girls quit school to marry, it is hoped that some of the younger girls in San Eduardo will someday learn the valuable skills of sewing and enterprise.
“The purpose of this cooperative is to provide decent work and to improve the quality of life for women. It is our hope that in the future there will be many more women that can be a part of Sibimbe.””
With your financial support, the CCJ helped create a new building to house the cooperative in 2014. And, in 2019, the CCJ helped to secure grant funding for improvements to the Sibimbe office making it possible for them to hire two additional women and purchase an embroidery machine, which will allow them to expand their business in an exciting new direction.
For more information on Sibimbe, visit their Facebook Page: Sibimbe San Eduardo
To purchase handmade products from Sibimbe, visit the online store at Thistle Farms Global.
