CASEM
CASEM, the Cooperativa de Artesanas de Santa Elena y Monteverde, is a non-profit crafts cooperative dedicated to enhancing the economic and social well-being of local women artists. The CASEM store and workshop, situated in the heart of Monteverde next to the Café Monteverde Coffee Shop, is a showcase for unique, locally produced handicrafts including decorative wall hangings, ceramics, clothes and bags, jewelry, toys and unusual wood carvings inspired by the natural beauty of the region.
The CASEM Co-op, originally part of the Cooperativa Santa Elena but now independent, was established in 1982 by a group of eight women artists who wanted to use their creative skills to improve the lives of their families. Initially working out of the kitchen of one of their founding members, over the years the women have turned the organization into a flourishing community enterprise, now involving around ninety women members and even three men.
CASEM’s objectives are to offer employment opportunities to local women and to provide training in production and diversification of arts and crafts techniques. They also work to promote understanding of business operations in order to help generate extra family income and, more importantly, build self-esteem and encourage community participation. To this end proceeds from sales have been used to finance artistic and business management training as well as workshops in confidence building, problem solving and conflict resolution. Members receive 65% of the sale price of all products while the remaining 35% is invested back into the cooperative, its facilities and education programs. Many of the women members say that selling their work through CASEM has helped them to develop a sense of independence and to create a network of friends and support.
In 1987, as part of a joint community effort, the current CASEM building was erected on land donated by the Cooperativa Santa Elena. The building houses a store, gallery and workshop space for members in addition to providing an important social meeting space. Every year volunteer groups from Europe and the US, hosted by Global Volunteers, come to work with CASEM and have been improving the building ever since, adding murals, mosaics, a native-plant garden and gallery fittings.
CASEM is open from Mon – Sat from 8am to 5pm and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Visitors may see local artists at work in the workshop and will know that any purchases they make are helping to support an essential community enterprise.
For more information call 645 5190.
