Translated report:
During the first quarter in 2012 (January through March) there have been 11 teens in the program. Most have stayed on and have been motivated to continue to train. Two left the program, having been reassigned to another facility, and one child returned to his family.
PROCESS
Currently, there are three morning and three afternoon sessions.
The students are knitting garments for themselves: they get to choose yarn, colors, textures and styles. We feel like this is an opportunity for the knitters to develop a clear vision of how this kind of training will benefit them (new clothes!) and hopefully translate into the realization that they have the power to create garments for themselves and for others, for a living FOCO spent approximately $150 in this quarter for yarn for the knitters’ garments and more practice baby garments.
They have made baby garments such as booties, sweaters, overalls, complete baby and toddler outfits. Dora also has been introducing larger sizes (up to 6) in order to expand the knitters’ future opportunities for production of more sizes and styles.
Hogares initiated conversations with Maprimas, a Colombian yarn company, but we are unable to purchase at wholesale prices at this time: they have a minimum order of 20 kilograms per yarn type exceeding the current capacity of our program.
Likewise, Hogares has begun conversations with Tejiestilos and Pepa Pombo, two Colombian knitware companies with the objective of learning from their experience and envisioning how large industrial companies operate.
Dora is learning to use the internet,so that she can teach the students about current style and color trends in the knitware market. This resource was used by the children when they made their choices to knit their own sweaters. Hogares held a fashion show with the knitters showing off their new garments.! A HUGE side benefit of this is that some adult attendees ordered garments based on what they saw!! We’re on our way!!
The knitting machines are operating properly, according to Dora Emilia: the maintenance and cleaning that was done at the beginning of the year was necessary ( cost: $1000) and the machines are now in great working order.
Hogares is planning a second fashion show featuring new garments currently being made to promote the workshop and encourage other teens to try out the program. We’re changing the world, one stitch at a time!
Thanks for your help: please consider a donation to help us keep this going.
Written by: Ruth Guana
