Souvenirs With Meaning

Ready to start the paper making process!

One of the first steps is to dip the paper mold into a "batter" of recycled paper pieces and water. When you bring the mold to the surface a soft paper product is ready!

To harden the paper simply press the mold onto a hard surface and let dry. After a day your paper product is complete!

The beautiful end products. (Made by professionals)

Anytime I travel, I love being able to bring back a piece of my journey to show family and friends. In Costa Rica there are many touristy shops filled with souvenirs, which seem to all have “Made In China” stickers on them.

Yet, I soon found Echo Bamboo. It is the local women’s cooperative where women create handmade paper. The paper is crafted into bags, notebooks, stationary and bookmarks with natural products including leaves, grasses and insects. It is then hand painted and decorated. The prices were comparable to the other souvenirs I encountered but the story and beauty behind the handcrafted paper products made them even more valuable.

The women who work at the cooperative have little education and families to provide for. Echo Bamboo teaches and enhances their craft skills. Most women find that they enjoy having a job and gaining skills. Echo Bamboo gives its workers flexible work schedules that provide time for motherhood and work. They work around 3 to 5 days a week and earn $75-$100 each. The cooperative began in 2001 and has trained numerous women. Around 14 are active crafters to date. 

Having a cooperative allows the women to gain fair prices for their goods. Echo Bamboo takes care of the financial aspect of selling products. This allows the women to do what they prefer; craft. The crafting is done with donated and recycled materials. Just beside the Echo Bamboo facility you will find a large pile of cardboard and paper. Not only are Echo Bamboo products beautiful but they give back to the environment as well.

If you are ever in Costa Rica, stop by Echo Bamboo located in Monteverde. The handmade crafts are true pieces of art. The care and time taken to create them shows.

“This project survived on love”- Tadira Brenos, Echo Bamboo President