Patricia Jimerez truly does it all. She is a women's rights activist, artisan and grandmother who formed CASEM, the Committee Artists Saint Elena Monteverde. CASEM is a women's craft cooperative that provides an opportunity for women to be independent by teaching them crafting skills. The crafts are sold to local business and in shops to tourists. Income gained from the crafts goes directly to the women and allows them to be independent by earning income. In addition, Jimerez advocates for Costa Rican social change and is a driving force within her community. She is respected for her craftsmanship and is an inspiration to all.
Jimerez is in her element at her home in Monteverde which is her craft studio and sanctuary. When she was 13 Jimerez was diagnosed with Polio. Since then she has used crutches and has had to adjust her life, home and work to accommodate the physical challenges she faces. Despite the obstacles she has faced, Jimerez is one of the strongest individuals I have met. She has not let anything slow her down.
I was invited inside Jimerez's home and discovered every room had her crafting touch. Her bathroom was hand painted from floor to ceiling with vibrant colors and designs that were inspired by the Costa Rican landscape. Jimerez described the many hours of painting it took for her vision to be completed.
Jimerez can often be found on her laptop with her cell phone near by. She harbors no aversion to technology and enjoys bonding with her young grandson on her computer. They create artwork together with painting software. Jimerez showed me her Word documents, Excel files and emails and proved that any generation, anywhere in the globe, can be in touch with today's fast pace world.
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