Juan Carlos Castillo carves jewelry, keychains, mortars & pestles & figurines out of Serpentine. Traditionally, Juan’s family has made a living through farming, but farming does not provide enough to live on. The income that fair trade provides for Juan Carlos & his family is what allows them to persevere.

Juan Carlos is the youngest of six children & the primary caregiver of his elderly mother in a remote village in the mountains of Ecuador. Because Juan’s village is a 3.5 hour bus ride away from the nearest city, his life is one of very hard work & very few modern conveniences.  

Minga has worked with Juan Carlos since 2006.