igh in the Ecuadorean hills and far from any urban center, Cayambe village women struggle to raise crops on lands recently purchased from hacienda owners. The women, who belong to an agricultural cooperative, often rise before dawn and work until sunset. Yet, despite the long days and hard work, their debt level remains prohibitively high. The question of how to help the women plagued Linda D'Amico, an anthropologist who had been based in the region while working for Unesco, a private voluntary organization. D'Amico took the issue to the South American Explorer's Club website, and her online efforts led to an introduction to the owner of a nearby textile company. Through the discussions that ensued, the Patchwork Project was born.