Alpacas, Peru, & the Peace Corps

Seven years ago, I received a call from the Peace Corps asking me if I’d be ready to jet off to Peru for 2.5 years. Sure, I had completed the long application process but the thought of packing up and heading to South America still seemed distant. I knew nothing about Peru and started frantically researching the country; Peace Corps told me that I’d be leaving in three short weeks. Of course I would go, there was no question in my mind but suddenly, my world turned upside down as I prepared myself to join the Peace Corps!
A few months later, I found myself in the heart of the Andes Mountains in a small community. The weather was COLD, but the sun shined bright and the snow-capped peaks in the distance were absolutely beautiful. I began working with a group of women who were talented knitters. In my mind, they were like machines; they practically knit with their eyes closed. I wasn’t a knitter so I found their abilities fascinating. As knitting is a large part of Andean culture, the women had learned to knit at young ages and were accustomed to knitting scarves, hats, sweaters and blankets for themselves and their children. It was amazing to see the women multi-tasking – babies on back, knitting, shopping, cooking. And, they never made mistakes! The products they knit were flawless and the alpaca fiber they used was beautiful. Alpaca is native to the Andes Mountains of South America so the knitters were able to go straight to the source, just a few miles away…

After discovering the small knitting cooperative, I started helping them develop their business and market the lovely alpaca items they created. As a result, they were able to increase their income and better provide for their families in the form of higher education, better health care and more nutritious food. Falling in love with the whole project, I created Mayu, a small social enterprise that imports and sells the 100% alpaca accessories that we created during my Peace Corps experience.
My next post on Alpaca Farm Girl will profile two of Mayu’s Peruvian artisans. And, stay tuned for a special giveaway this Fall, just for Alpaca Farm Girl’s readers!
For Mayu’s short video on alpaca fiber, click here. And, to learn more about the intensive process of creating hand-knit alpaca accessories, read here.
You can visit Kate at www.shopmayu.com.


















