Claudia Rodriguez Zeballos from Ecuador

The production process is truly a family affair: together with her husband and three daughters, Claudia works on every pair of earrings. This collaboration began after she migrated from Bolivia to Ecuador and has since become the foundation of her business. The earrings are mainly sold at local and provincial markets and trade fairs in the Cotopaxi region, where they are purchased primarily by female customers and by the cooperative itself.

The Hermes Gaibor Savings and Credit Cooperative plays an important role in Claudia’s journey. It provides her with working capital loans to purchase raw materials and supplies, helps her participate in markets, and increases her visibility through promotion and social media. In addition, she receives training and guidance to better manage her finances and pricing strategies.

For Claudia, her work means more than just an income. It gives her economic independence and enables her to support her family, especially in a situation where her husband is struggling with a serious illness. Thanks to her craft, she is able to combine work with family caregiving while also contributing to a sustainable local economy through the use of natural materials sourced from her own region.