Animalitos, Baby Blankets & Kantuta

If you're looking for a wonderful gift for children, look no further than "Animalitos".  Whether you buy one, five, ten or twenty, the wonderful little finger puppets are a bargain guaranteed to keep children busy putting on "shows" for hours. And, at $2/each plus shipping they're quite a bargain. Also available are handmade baby blankets (priced at a very reasonable $20/each plus shipping) which are made by Aymara women in Chucuito, Puno, Peru. They live in a village about 20 minutes from the city of Puno at an altitude of 12,800 feet. Their area has been designated by the United Nations as a permanent disaster area with that designation never having been lifted. This special group of artisans, named after the national flower of Bolivia which is grown on the Atliplano of Peru, is called the Kantuta. The flower, both delicate and sturdy, mirrors the qualities of the women themselves.

This group of craftswomen is comprised of Kantutitas (under 15 years of age,) Kantutas (teenagers and young adults who use their earnings to supplement their education,) Mamas Kantutas (young mothers, often single parents) and Flor de Kantuta (more mature women whose earnings augment a very meager family inclome).

By purchasing these items, you help support this group which was begun by the Sisters of Mercy in the Parish of Chucuito over ten years ago to promote dignity and provide them with communal activities and growth opportunities. 

If you're interested in obtaining quantity discounts, contact Anne Johnson, Mercy Associate at AJohnson@mercyburl.org. Shipping charges are determined by the amount of the order, so check the Order Form for details. The baby blanket on the order form depicts an Ark filled with wonderful animals handcrafted especially for you.