Yesterday, I had to clean out all my kitchen cupboards and fumigate them because of a horrible 'rice bag full of bugs' incident.
Today I learned how to crochet and knit. With plastic grocery bags...plarn.
Why, you may ask? Good question.
In December I had the huge privilege of helping to launch a program for low-income/at-risk ladies in our community called the Creative Co-op of Re-use. Our goal is to teach ladies how to make handicrafts out of 100% recycled materials to sell and make an income. Beautiful trash. We are actively searching out venues to sell these crafts not only here to the tourist market, hotel chains, and shops, but in the States as well. We just were contacted by a large museum in D.C. area interested in our products!
The main materials we have used so far are magazines, newspapers, and plastic. And we just ordered a kiln to do glass (melting) and a tumbler for glass and rocks. We have been making jewelry, beads, purses, coasters, place mats, baskets, vases, bowls and come up with new ideas everyday. (like the Plarn!)
We applied for a grant through the USAID poverty alleviation initiative and are hoping some bling comes our way through that. We'd love to expand to our own location (right now we use space in a community center), hire a local lady to manage the program, expand our working hours (right now we are only 3 mornings a week) and continue developing our distribution channels, website, and product catalog.
We have about 15 ladies that come very consistently and we have 10 on the waiting list! Each lady in our program goes through an interview process and qualifies based on her income or any risk factors that she may be dealing with...divorced, multiple wives, handicapped, infertile, single, orphaned, widowed, etc.
They are each precious to work with and come everyday with a big smile and hands ready to work. It has been so neat to see the community form.
If you are interested in hosting our products for sale OR if you are the crafty type and can teach us any new techniques - just let me know. We'd love to include you in this exciting group of ladies!
We have about 15 ladies that come very consistently and we have 10 on the waiting list! Each lady in our program goes through an interview process and qualifies based on her income or any risk factors that she may be dealing with...divorced, multiple wives, handicapped, infertile, single, orphaned, widowed, etc.
They are each precious to work with and come everyday with a big smile and hands ready to work. It has been so neat to see the community form.
If you are interested in hosting our products for sale OR if you are the crafty type and can teach us any new techniques - just let me know. We'd love to include you in this exciting group of ladies!
Hello! I am new to your blog; I am enjoying reading your stories as I too came from the Midwest (MN) to Amman. I really LOVE this idea of helping the poor in Jordan convert trash into $$...great for you! My father recently visited here and he mentioned a number of times how there must be a way to decrease the poverty by employing the poor to clean up the trash. What you are doing is so creative and inspirational. The products are great!
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Welcome to the blog! Glad we have met virtually. I'll jump over to your blog and take a look. Thanks for your encouragement!
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