sHOME        |       ABOUT US     |       WHERE ARE WE    |   contact us

…There must be something we can do about all this rubbish…

Esther, recycles waste office paper.The paper is torn up and soaked in bins…and then turned into pulp using a blender

The paper is dyed, and other decorative items are added to the pulp such as flower petals, dried leaves and waste sugar cane fibre. Sometimes the paper is painted with a toothbrush after forming the sheets to achieve a variegated effect. 

Our recycling team live in Alto Trujillo, a housing settlement on the outskirts of the city, which has spread right out into the desert.  Part of Alto Trujillo can be seen in these photos and the home of our main handmade paper producer, Esther, Esther, in the blue and white top, can be seen demonstrating the steps to making paper at home.  She is also helped by her husband, and by her sister-in-law who lives next door but one

The pulp is formed into layers with a deckle and then the layers are placed onto a rectangle of cloth and laid out onto the sand to dry.

 The lovely handmade paper that Esther and the others produce is our basic craft material at Esperanza for creating card designs.

We also recycle tetrapak cartons (milk and juice cartons).  The cardboard bit is torn off and added to the pulp for added fibre the inside aluminium layer is our source of silver paper where needed on the card designs, like the silver border of the dove design.  Finally, if you look carefully at the snowflakes on the Noel design you will see that some of our designs use, the patterned insides of envelopes.

Recycling is great news for Esther and her team….they can use resources available for free:

waste paper, cartons and envelopes, and sun and sand for drying.

 What is more they can work from home (saving time and bus fares) and earn much needed income to provide for their families.  They are really proud of the paper that they produce with so much care and through Esperanza they are able to receive a fair price for their hard work.

 When you buy Esperanza cards and other products you can be proud to know that you are contributing to improving the dignity and quality of life of women like Esther.  What is more you can know that even in a small way the project is helping to conserve the environment!

Site Administrator

Héctor Hugo Cruzado