A Discussion with Critisna Coronel, Entrepreneur, Artisanal Producer, San Miguel, Buenos Aires, Argentina

With: Cristina Coronal Berkley Center Profile

June 25, 2013

Background: As part of the Education and Social Justice Project, in June 2013 undergraduate Sarah Baran interviewed Cristina Coronel, who, along with several others, founded an artisanal craftsmanship company in Buenos Aires in the 1970s. Coronel obtained her first loan from Protagonizar, a microfinance lender started by Jesuits in the lower class Buenos Aires community of San Miguel, nearly a decade ago. In this interview she discusses her personal background, work with Protagonizar, and favorite aspects of her work.

Can you please share with me a little bit more about your background, your life, your family, and how you came to be involved in your business?

I studied journalism and artisanal, which is what I live now. I have a small family business that is my livelihood and is what supports me economically. I also now work monthly as part of a team for a union association of state workers. There are five of us on staff—four organizers and one director. In my family, I have three daughters and two nephews, five children in all. I have been separated for many, many years, and I am still alone now. When I was raising my family, the issue was always economic. More than just supporting my family with a house and with food, I was always worried about how I was going to support their studies—primary, secondary, and university. I had all types of difficulties. Imagine a woman responsible for five children, alone, and living in a place with lots of drugs, alcohol, children in the streets that do nothing or go to school and still do nothing. I would not accept this for my children. The only way to grow, to improve, to have a future, is through education. As a journalist, you do not make much money unless you are published, and so I started as an artisanal [producer]. My preference now, economically, is artisanal [work].

Can you tell me more about when you first started your microfinance family business?

I began my family microbusiness 40 years ago more or less. It was during the ‘70s, when Argentina was more industrial, which allowed for more flexibility in terms of employment. It was during this time that five other people and I began to organize. I first looked for people with talents similar to mine. Next, we divided our abilities and expertise based on the different craftsmanship. We started as a business little by little, buying material and trying one thing or a couple of things at first. Our work was always more artisanal rather than industrial, and we complemented one another's talents. We work with leather in the majority of our projects. One person would design the bags or boots, then someone else would cut and prepare the leather. Someone would decorate it, and finally someone would sell it.

It was through this business that I was able to support my family—first with food, clothes, and books. Now my children are grown. My oldest daughter is 40 and works as a psychologist. She earned her degree here in la Universidad de Buenos Aires. My second-oldest daughter is 39 and a lawyer. She also started in la Universidad de Buenos Aires but finished in a private university, Technica en Francia, specializing in social rights. My third daughter studied art in a public university, and my niece, too, studied art and now is an art teacher in the south, in Patagonia. All of them studied. I always placed that as the first objective. Study. Study. Study. It was my policy to give them the basics and what they needed to survive.

Moreover, I wanted to pass on the consciousness and awareness to work to create a more equal society. This is what I believe is most important for the future, in addition to the basics of health and education. When I have time later in the afternoons, I teach in my office a class for kids on how to create these artisanal crafts. I do it because this form of work is also a way to promote the values of our country, and I want to pass that on. In 2001, anything and everything for sale was from China. Everything was industrial and cost two pesos [40 cents]. [Artisans] needed to compete with this, but it is more than that. We had to learn how to live but as artists were very creative and intent on sustaining ourselves. I sell my crafts at a market in San Miguel, and my daughter, the one that studied art, she also helps me at events, parties, national holidays, everything.

Can you please talk a little bit more about your involvement with Protagonizar and how they have helped you?

I began with Protagonizar when they were in the church, nine or ten years ago now. A friend from school that I worked with knew about Protagonizar, and together we formed a group. The first credits we received from them helped us incredibly.

I learned from Progtagonizar how to be more disciplined. We had to take a class on managing our finances, asking whether or not I have money. I learned how to know how much I have, how to save and grow. It is not easy, and it was especially not easy with a large family. Now we are smaller. It helped me because I got to know people who were interested in helping me, people who are now my friends that I see every week and chat with a little, but, most of all, they help me. Before, I lacked a formal perspective and was looking for an alternative, but there was not one. Their help is also important because not only is it economical but also they work alongside you with the point of view that you are not alone. They have your back. It is a proposal of hope because when a person is struggling economically, it also affects their moral and psychological wellbeing. Many of the men here have depression or are sick, and sometimes the culture further promotes this because in our culture, men have the role of the provider; however, the women react differently. I also defend women here through organizations that defend their rights because this is a country with a culture that is very machista. As I was saying, women react differently because they look for what they need to do and begin to do it. Protagonizar helps in this way because they support us; they have our backs.

How many credits have you had?

I have had 10 individual and, before that, even more as a group—30 or 35. Now my loan is for 1,000 pesos [200 dollars]. It is small, but that is the idea: once your financial position is stable, secure, and economically regulated, then you should not be dependent on the loans. However, I took a loan out recently to buy a modern machine that changes the leather. It is very good, and so the loans have helped in this aspect with updating the technology. After, as soon as I can, I return the money.

How have you invested your money?

Besides funding my children’s education, I have done different things with the profits from my business. For instance, I am now improving my house and am currently fixing the bathrooms.

I live in Moreno now and have lived all of my life in Marìlo, but I have also traveled throughout all of Argentina and gone to the south, as well. I went several times during the summer to Patagonia for different international markets. I also went to one close to the border with Bolivia with my daughter. Now, I know all of Argentina.

What is your favorite part of your work?

As an artisan, there is socioeconomic value—providing for myself, for my family, helping my children, my nephews, and my nieces. It allows me to take advantage of the possibility to not be poor and be able to see the results of my work. It allows me to achieve objectives and pursue intellectual development. Now, my oldest daughter has two children, my grandchildren, and they are more intelligent than I am.

This aspect is also combined with the nature of the work. Moreover, I like the creativity because it allows me to not forget that there is a future. Having contact with creativity allows me to have an open mind, which I think is especially important for people of my age. Knowledge of the past is important as well, but I need to look to the future for my grandchildren. I am constantly learning how to work new technology and am training myself. Creativity is good. It creates a moment when all that one is capable of can be channeled. To be an artisan is to be a creator, like performers with music or poets or storytellers. It is important to conserve what is necessary. Yes, I enjoy the creativity.
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