Cuso International is a non-profit development organization that works through volunteers. Each year, we send hundreds of global citizens to work on collaborative development projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We are one of North America’s leading international development organizations that works through volunteers.

 

The association called the Union of Artisans of the Earth with the acronym UNIARTE is a representative body of indigenous artisans of Santa Cruz department. UNIARTE is made up of 60 young artisans from two indigenous peoples: the Chiquitanos of Lomerío and the Guarayos of Urubichá and Los Tajibos. UNIARTE helps artisans to develop their  artistic abilities, while preserving their ancestral cultural  expression and traditional techniques.  Since its founding, the association has had the objective of conserving and defending the cultural identity as indigenous peoples Chiquitanos and Guarayos, provide an alternative source of income to young indigenous people who can then afford training in the institutes  and universities in our city.

 

Overall placement purpose and specific volunteer placement objectives: UNIARTE’s artisans face  the competition challenges of a globalized market that is saturated with substitution products or imitations of their handicraft products. As a consequence, artisans must obtain additional funds to drive strategies to become more competitive. In collaboration with the marketing, management and technical support staff, the volunteer will be in charge of supporting UNIARTE in the development and implementation of new intervention strategies with the financing bodies (ONG’s, public  institutions, etc.)