Hojotas a Mano began with two students, Jamie and Beatriz, who wanted to create a sustainable company that sold handmade recycled paper products. They started to mix pulp in their parent's kitchen, and then as demand for their products grew, bought a small house in the mountaintop village in Concepcion, Peru, where they hired and trained artisans to help fulfill their vision. This way, the pair helps alleviate the poverty of the area with notebooks, cards, photo frames and other products handmade using recycled materials and natural decorations.

At Hojotas a Mano, each artisan is assigned tasks that best suit their capabilities and interests and offers their input to help design new and existing products. This way, each skill is utilized and the every member contributes to the success of the final product. When orders exceed capacity, the group invites other members of the community to help.

Most artisans don't have any formal education or training outside of Hojotas a Mano, and this exchange of ideas and creative development is key to their personal development. Likewise, the dynamics of the work environment fosters a spirit of community and empowerment that allows artisans to take pride in their work.