Mamitupu is a Kuna island that does not attract as many tourists as many other islands. Because of this, their economy, based mostly on the sale of coconuts, has suffered from the recent decline in coconut prices. A resident of the island, Pablo Nunez, decided to extract oil from coconuts, reasoning that pure oil might prove more marketable that raw coconuts. Delia Austin, a participant of MOLA TOUR, recognized the quality of Pablo's coconut oil and suggested using the oil for making soap.
So began the Mamitupo Morkauk Project. In 2004, Delia and Louise spent five days on Mamitupo instructing a core group in the basics of soap making and marketing. When Delia and Louise left in late February of that year, Mamitupo had the equipment to make small batches of soap and a few marketing ideas. There was little communication between Mamitupo and the US in the year that followed, and when Delia and Louise returned to Mamitupo 2005, they had no idea of what had been happening with the morkauk project.
During 2004, the people of Mamitupo embraced the morkauk project, producing and selling over 800 bars of soap. They also created a companion piece: a halved gourd that functions as a soap dish. The gourds, carved with pictures representative of the island, and the soaps, wrapped in colorful skirt fabric, are a useful and attractive souvenir for tourists visiting Kuna Yala. And it's not just for tourists: among the Kunas on the islands and in Panama City, Mamitupu Morkauk has earned the reputation of gently cleaning the most sensitive skin and is often used for infants with rashes and other skin irritations.
The school on Mamitupo only goes through six grades: any child who wishes to attend secondary school has to travel either to another island or to Panama City. Through the years, the Mamitupu Morkauk Project has awarded a number of scholarships to deserving students to enable them to continue their education. They have also funded several social and cultural activities on the island. The project now continues with only minimal input from people outside of the community, and its continued success speaks to the ingenuity and determination of the members of the cooperative.
