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Jen Harris Storytelling and Marketing Coordinator Contact: jen@awamaki.org Hometown: Long Island, New York Jen fell in love with the Sacred Valley and its people during a 2006 semester abroad program in Cusco through an NGO. While volunteering, attending classes, and visiting ruins, she also found a special place in her homestay family’s...
Sammy Pallat Sustainable Design Intern Contact: sammy@awamaki.org Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey Sammy is our sustainable design intern. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, but attended the Massachusetts based boarding school Walnut Hill School for the Arts in high school. There, her love of fashion and design was sparked. That passion became...
Sr. Tommy Artisan Product Sewer Hometown: Chinchero, Peru Sr. Tomas was born and raised in Chinchero, Urubamba, where he still resides. He is responsible for finishing products at Awamaki, taking the woven textile made by our artisan partners and creating card wallets, handbags, pillow covers and more. He cuts materials...
Caroline Portella Fundraising, Marketing & Operations Coordinator Contact: caroline@awamaki.org Hometown: Chiclayo, Peru Caroline was born in Chiclayo and moved to the United States at a young age. However, she remained very close to her culture growing up. Whenever she returned to visit Peru, she would find a way to help give back to communities. Caroline...
Melissa grew up in Lima and is the Sales Manager here at Awamaki. She manages product development, inventory and order fulfillment. She formerly served as our Tourism Coordinator. In her two roles, she has been able to create strong bonds with the women and many of our partners that send...
Martha grew up in the community of Rumira, and was a member artisan in one of the cooperatives that we work with for spinning and knitting. She first joined Awamaki about four years ago after hearing about the job opening from two other women who worked directly with us for...
Kennedy has always been passionate about women's rights and independence. She connected this passion with Latin America at a young age, when she went on a school trip to Ollantaytambo, Peru - where Awamaki is now based - in 2001. That trip inspired her interest in Latin America and international development, and set...
Alejandra Carrillo-Muñoz is a designer motivated by the intersection of art and culture as a way to generate social good within marginalized communities. Focused in the ethical, socially-sustainable, slow fashion sector, she utilizes collaborative approaches to partner with indigenous, weaving artisans in the creation of fashion goods. She is most...
Mercedes Durand Zamalloa Head of Women's Artisan Cooperatives Contact: mercedes@awamaki.org Hometown: Urubamba, Peru Mercedes grew up in the town of Urubamba, about 20 minutes away from Ollantaytambo. She is the Head of Women’s Artisan Cooperatives at Awamaki and is in charge of leading most of our workshops in Quechua or Spanish....
Yovana was born in Lima and spent a couple years during her childhood going to school in Cusco before returning to Lima. Now, she has been in the Cusco area for about ten years but has travelled a lot, to various places for work. Although Yovana has changed her role...
