Last Revised 24 Nov 2009

HAND-PAINTED CARDS FOR SALE

Double click on any picture for an enlarged view. (If your computer misaligns the pictures and the order numbers, the order number is shown on the enlarged view. Of course, that number is not printed on your card)              

        TC-01                                  TC-03                                TC-10                               TC-11                              TC-13                 

        TC-15                                  TC-21                                TC-22                               TC-23                              TC-25

        TC-27                                  TC-29

       TC-14                    TC-18                 TC-19                    TC-20                   TC-26                 TC-31                 TC-32                            TC-33                            TC-34

Most of the cards come with two choices of background color as shown on the order blank.  Each of the 12 background colors is represented in the thumbnails above.  In response to your most often asked question, we now include an artist's biography and picture with each card although artists' bios are not matched with the cards they paint.  These biographies are on this website as well.  TC-31, TC-32, TC-33 and TC-34 are new designs for 2009. 

    Click here for ORDERing instructions.                Click here for Artist's Biographies  page.                Click here to skip directly to Mail In Order Form page.

CEOLI is an organization in Cochabamba, Bolivia that provides education, vocational training and medical treatment to handicapped children and young adults. CEOLI is widely recognized as being one of the best organizations for the handicapped in Bolivia.  Nevertheless, they are struggling to provide for the many, many young people in the Cochabamba area who need their services so desperately.

A small group of severely handicapped young artists, led by a talented art teacher named Daniela, is hand-painting greeting cards of typical Bolivian scenes. The extent of the young people’s disabilities, combined with a generally depressed economy, cause their other employment prospects to be extremely limited.  One of the more skilled painters holds the brush in his mouth.  

CEOLI is working to develop a market to sell these cards so these young adults can be at least partially gainfully employed.  We (Marvin and Martie Wachs) are assisting CEOLI by finding potential markets and buyers in the U.S.  Here is an opportunity for those of us in more fortunate circumstances and countries to extend a hand to young adults who genuinely want to work and earn their own way.

Each card is hand-painted and handcrafted so no two are identical. There are 17 models, and most models come in a choice of background colors.  Four of the designs ( #10, #11, #21 and #23) could be used for Christmas cards, although they are also appropriate for general use.  All other models could be used as all-purpose note cards, or even birthday cards. They make excellent gifts as note cards.  Each painted scene is mounted on white or tan bi-fold card stock measuring about 4¼ " by 6½ ". The inside is blank. Plain white envelopes are included.

The card designs are of Bolivian scenes, or people in native costumes,  set against rural landscapes.  All the scenes have vivid colors and are strikingly beautiful. The cost is $1.25 per card, plus shipping. All of your money goes to CEOLI.  As with any business there is the cost of raw materials and overhead, but at least 50% goes directly to the young people making the cards.  They are paid at the time they complete their work.  In Cochabamba, Bolivia, the artist's earnings from one card will buy two loaves of bread, one liter of milk, ½ kilo of apples, bananas or beans, or three bus rides across town.

If you are interested in cards for Christmas, gifts or personal use click on the Mail in Order Form below.   We also encourage groups to use these cards for fund raising projects.  For questions, contact Marvin and Martie Wachs by email at mwachs@worldwidewachs.com  (please use "CEOLI Cards" in the subject line so you will pass security filters).  Normally,  orders can specify any of the 17 designs and 12 background colors.  We have plenty of selection right now and we have new designs coming in August.  We were in Cochabamba last July visiting the artists and fine tuning the business plan.  We shall have an inventory of almost 10,000 cards by September.  Orders will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

We have provided a Mail In Order Form.  Use Print Preview to avoid printing more than the Order Form, fill in the blanks for your selection, add the postage as shown below the Order Form, calculate the grand total and write a check payable to Marvin Wachs.  Your order will generally be filled within 48 hours of receipt.

We thank you on behalf of CEOLI and the young people in Bolivia.

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