Joining forces to teach girls in Chocó, Colombia

Hi! We are DesignlabGive (DLG) and we’re doing away with the traditional model of charitable work. We don’t just give, we teach. We teach women sewing, a skill that they can use not just to meet their own basic needs, but also, generate an income. We don’t assume that we always know best, we find the people who do. We partner with organizations on the ground in different countries to ensure that our impact is as maximized as possible. But now, we need your help. 

DLG’s latest project is in Colombia's Pacific, the Choco region. We’ve joined forces with Somos Martina  (www.somosmartina.com)
a Colombian brand leading the market in period underwear. Together, we  will be teaching 20 women from Fundacion Espiritu Indomable (www.espirituindomable.com), how to make reusable pads during a 3-day workshop.

Of course, our aim is always to be sustainable in all that we do so, in turn, the students will use this learned skill to teach other girls. With your help, we can empower these women with the tools and skills to make additional reusable pads for this entire unrepresented community, where women and girls are the most affected.  Over half of the population in Chocó is internally displaced and remains one of Colombia's poorest regions, with 58% of the population being women.  Our classes  will also incorporate a women's health talk lead by a group called Poderosas Colombia. 

The machines we will use in our classes are a donation from a US based group, www.thesewingmachineproject.com
These machines will spark creativity beyond the days spent with this group, as DLG will continue working with FEI through its virtual platform.  Our co-founder Angie's creative touch will start girl-lead solutions, and DLG and its partners can assist girls in creating a better life for themselves. 

We are reaching out to our family of donors, as we kindly request funding for this mission. Our team will volunteer its time to teach and share vital knowledge. Your donations will allow us to travel, and donate necessary materials to the community including fabric, sewing notions, irons, and other necessary items for the classes. 

Designlab Give is a 501c3,  non-profit organization based in Miami. We teach the art of sewing, up-cycling and fair trade in fashion. We love to see the students that volunteer in our program develop their creativity, but we also encourage them to open their minds to diversity and sustainability.

Our programs are always available and always free for every women, anywhere. Follow us on instagram @designlabgive and check out our website: www.designlabgive.org  to learn more.