FINCA, Peru is a non-governmental organization based in Ayachuco, Lima. FINCA was founded in 1993 with the mission to provide loans and support business ownership amongst socially and economically disadvantaged women in the region. In addition to its credit saving program, FINCA also provides training to its members on several aspects, such as entrepreneurship, credit, women rights and health awareness.

FINCA exports, the export arm for handmade goods made by women artisan of Ayachuco and Huancavelica regions, was started in 2006. As an extension to its parent micro finance organization, FINCA’s vision is that of fighting poverty through handcraft and giving the local artisans access to fair trade markets, fair wages and training support.

Timotea, a local Ayacuchan artisan, is one such member of FINCA. She had a typical childhood and adolescence of a rural Peruvian woman, until their village was attacked and destroyed by terrorists in the late 1970’s. Timotea and her family escaped to Ayacucho, a city with scarce employment opportunities. With few options left, Timotea self taught herself the craft of stone carving, from the alabaster stones found locally in the Andes. Today with her perseverance and FINCA’s support, she is a skilled artisan with the gift of producing one of the highest quality hand carved stone products in the region.