Women's Multipurpose Coop.

The artisans of Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative create woven, crocheted and knitted items, home decor items and recycled newspaper products, Christmas decorations made of pine needles, and baskets indigenous to local communities. The cooperative helps women artisans work together in groups, obtain government help in skills training, buy raw materials, gain access to low interest loans and obtain titles to their land. Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative is affiliated with the Cooperative Development Authority and is an affiliate of the Philippine Exporters Confederation.

Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative was started in 1994 to create jobs for people who moved into the area around Baguio City hoping to work in the copper and gold mines. At 5,000 feet above sea level, Baguio City is the highest city in the Philippines. With its cooler climate and stunning scenery, this area has become a major tourist destination. In the last few years it has been designated a Philippine Export Zone, hosting more than 40 multinational corporations. This provides many jobs, but few of them pay well.

Ten Thousand Villages purchases woven bookmarks, pine needle baskets, earrings, necklaces, recycled paper coasters, hotmats, baskets, placemats and nativities from Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased products from Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative since 1987.