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Andean Community Knitting Workshops

Alpaca Knitwear & Accessories Project: Knitting workshops for Andean community

Project activities:

Since September 2014 we have been running knitting workshops for women in a rural community in the Andes of Peru. These ladies and their children rely on a local soup kitchen programme for lunch during the week, which is run by the Dutch foundation Stichting Wees Kind. This knitting project provides two workshops per week for around 9 ladies, which gives them the chance to learn new techniques and improve their skills. Some did not know how to knit before starting the classes, and are now able to knit simple accessories, sweaters and even baby clothes.

Project Objectives:

First and foremost, the aim is to teach the participants a useful skill that is relevant to their lives and families. Most rural women still knit clothes for their babies and children if they know how, so with this practice they are learning how to make clothes for their children.

Secondly, the aim is to produce knitted alpaca accessories and clothes, in order to generate an income for families living in poverty near the mountain town of Huaraz, Peru. Our goal is to market these products to independent retailers in Europe or elsewhere, in order to sell at prices that allow us to cover costs, pay the women a good wage and to have profit leftover to reinvest in the project. Sustainable initiatives such as this one can create long term solutions for many problems caused by poverty and would encourage economic growth within the community, which will have a positive impact on peoples' lives. 

The women with whom we work are beneficiaries of the Stichting Wees Kind soup kitchen in Los Pinos, Huaraz. Many are illiterate and did not finish secondary education, therefore it is difficult for them to find permanent employment. By empowering them to earn their own income they will be able to feed, clothe and provide the necessary school materials for their children. We know that the ladies are more than capable, and we have the motivation to make it work so please help us get this project off the ground!

The money raised goes directly to the teacher's fee for the weekly workshops, as well as the regular purchase of materials for the activities (alpaca wool, knitting needles, buttons etc).

Organizer

Katherine Liakos
Organizer

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