In December 2002 we heard that AYNI and the Hotel Rosario were looking for Yamaha mothers from the slopes of the city of La Paz in order to give them work. Together with a group of friends we came down from the neighborhood called Villa Nuevo Potosi to see what it was all about. At AYNI they told us we were going to make embroidered Christmas cards. They gave us the materials and taught us what to do. We were told to work at home so we could take care of our children and not interrupt our household chores. I made 10 embroidered cards. Other mothers made up to 50 depending on their free time. What I earned was enough to provide a special Christmas dinner for my husband and children.

That Christmas we were almost 300 mothers with very little money and we made more than 1000 cards which were sold in the city. 900 children had a good Christmas dinner. Seeing our need, AYNI wanted to continue helping and designed cards with typical motifs. There are now 5 mothers whose stories are very sad, but who can now live better thanks to these cards. We sell them only at AYNI in the city of La Paz in the Hotel Rosario for the moment, but it would be wonderful for us to export them and be able to include more mothers with serious problems and help them too by selling more cards all year round. We make our cards with enthusiasm because we realize we can get ahead. Most of us arrive from the countryside or the mines and few of know how to read or write. We have no capital. We live from day to day. WE prefer to embroider at home and not have to take our small children out into the streets where they get sick or have accidents.

The card you now have in your hand helps us directly. In AYNI we have found help. They give us psychological support and they train us in health and nutrition for our children.
Each embroidered card, made completely by hand, takes between 4 and 7 hours to finish depending on the design and our capabilities. One can make only 2 cards in one day. AYNI gives us the design and we decide on the colors. We learn which of our creations sells best. Each card is different in some way although the designs are similar. Each mother adds her own details and the card become unique. If our cards sell right away we earn a good living. If the price has to be lowered, we earn less. This is the reason we are motivated to work hard and improve. Thanks to your purchase you can be sure you have helped someone. If you would like more information or if you would like to meet our families and us personally, Pleas speak to Ms Vania Rivero who organizes us. And if you would like to buy our cards in your own country, you can use the Internet www.hotelrosario.com/ayni Tell you friends about us.