Mariza Baca Espinoza
Mariza is 25 years old and lives in Huayroncoyocpampa with her husband and two children, Josef (5) and Elisabeth (4). Every six months her husband is contracted to work in a local hotel as an assistant cook, while the other six months he works on the family chakra tending potatoes, corn, wheat, and carrots. Mariza works in the chakra when she can. In January, their house was destroyed by the flood, forcing the family to live in a tent for 7 months without electricity or gas. Meals had to be cooked using firewood, and Mariza’s children became sick with the flu and bronchitis due to exposure to the cold winter temperatures. The family recently received a loan from the bank to rebuild their house, this time with cement and rock in place of adobe. Although there is still no electricity. Mariza loves listening to huayno and cumbia music when she can, and is often seen knitting away with her headphones in. Interview conducted October 2010

Barbara Sallos Usca
Barbara is 46 years old and has five children, two of which still live at home. She has one son and four daughters between 10 and 21 years old. She was born in Ollantaytambo and moved to Huayroncoyocpampa 25 years ago when she married her husband who works for the municipality as a construction worker. The whole family has been living in a single tent for eight months since the January floods and is still awaiting the finances to rebuild their home. Despite the hardship, Barbara likes living here because it is a nice place to tend animals. Along with a small chakra, the family raises goats, rabbits, and pigs to sell. She learned to knit when she was 20 years old, and still manages to fit it into her busy schedule of washing, cooking, and tending the animals. Interview conducted October 2010

Claudia Ccahua Huaman
Claudia has two children, Santiago who is 9 years old and is in 4th grade, and Luzmarina who is 10 months old. She and her husband own the small convenience store in Huayroncoyocpampa. She graciously allows all the Awamaki knitters to gather outside her home and store for their twice-weekly meetings.

Yudi Pilco Achircana
Yudi is 28 yeas old. She lives in Huayroncoyacopampa with her husband and two children. She has two girls. Griselda is 9 years old and Lisbeth is 6 years old. Her and her husband have a chakra where they farm corn and potatoes. During the heavy rains of 2010, her house was flooded to waist level and one of the rooms fell into the river. Her and her family are now living in one room which was the least water damaged. In her free time she likes to listen to music and knit. She hopes to use the money she makes from knitting to rebuild the rest of her home.
 

Elizabeth
Elizabeth is 56 years old and the mother of 6. The age of her kids range from 36 to 12 years old, two of which still live with her in Ollantaytambo. Her husband is retired but use to work as a chauffeur. Her roof was damaged last year and she hopes to be able to earn extra money to repair it. She has always knitted and can be seen with knitting needles in hand whenever she has free time. Her favorite item to make is a baby hats with little ears.  

Awaiting bios:
Norma Silva Solis
Silvia Escabedo Alvares
Santiagina Solis Usandivales
Gabina
Cristina