Supporting DAR Project Artisans
Donation protected
Hello friends, family and anyone else reading! My name is Nicole and I am looking for your help and generosity. Over the last 3 years my incredible friend, Jenny Boucher, has built an extraordinary design studio focused on social innovation in Northern Peru.
DAR Projects has been working hand-in-hand with over 300 artisans to translate heritage, techniques and materials into contemporary, high quality design objects. Over the course of 3 years of design, production and exports, DAR Projects has built a customized training system for local artisans in partnership with social responsibility partners. Artisans are able to work together and take responsibility for their own success. Through experience and confidence building, stone and textile artisans are directly accessing economic opportunities through their craft heritage.
The Ask:
I have been collecting gently used toys & electronics to ship to Northern Peru to distribute to these artisans and their families for the holidays. As many of the artisans work out of their homes and live below international poverty lines, these donations will mean so much to these families. The toy drive has been a huge success! Through the generosity of many moms in the Ancaster community, we have reached our goal of collecting enough toys to distribute at Christmas.
However, I am now hoping to raise enough money to ship these wonderful donations to Peru in time for Christmas. The costs of shipping are large and I am looking to you, my friends any family, to help support this cause.
Between the shipping, freight, services charges, brokerage fees and taxes I am aiming to collect $2,000 which will allow me to ship 300lbs of toy donations to these families in time for the holidays.
How Does this Fundraiser Work? (UPDATED)
I am looking for cash donations in any denomination; any amount that you feel comfortable contributing is and will be greatly appreciated.
As a special incentive, we have collected a sampling of items produced by the artisans to offer for any larger donations. These would make great Christmas presents and you would be helping a great cause!!
For a $100 donation, you will receive:

(1 of 2 Mini Bucket Bags)
For a $150 donation, you will receive:
(1 of 10 large, round base totes)
For a $250 donation, you will receive:
(Only 1 available. Large, leather handle weekend bag)
What are the specific steps I need to take if I want to make donation?
*If you do not wish to receive a bag for your donation, you can simply donate and disregard the following steps. You are greatly appreciated!*
1) Make a non-anonymous (full name) donation through this GoFundMe page so we can thank you in person!
2) Fill out this Form
3) Keep an eye out in your inbox for information regarding your bag!
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Where will the funds go? How will the donations help?
100% of the funds collected will go directly toward the cost of shipping the toys from Toronto to the artisans in Peru. Because of the prohibitive costs of shipping, I am currently looking into what the most cost effective shipping solution might be. This means a decision between using some sort of courier company or purchasing a plane ticket and paying the baggage overage charges and hand-delivering the items. As we come to a decision about which option turns out to be more cost effective, I will update this page.

How long will this fundraiser go for?
I am hoping to raise all of the money needed to be able to ship the items at the beginning of December. As such, I will be looking for donations until December 1st, 2018.
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Additional Information:
Vision: DAR Projects delivers that design can act as a bridge between under-developed craft communities and contemporary consumers who want to make a positive impact through their purchases.
By prioritizing quality design within the context of heritage techniques, we create thoughtful products which appeal to a global market while respecting indigenous methods, values and cosmology.
Goal: We aim to connect a high-design artisan brand with reliable commercial opportunities on the global market. Purchases enable artisans to prioritize their unique crafts and maintain the magic of Andean culture.
Social innovation and business go hand-in-hand.
Our core business principle is building trust with our talented team of artisans. The communities we work in have been subject to tumultuous histories, corrupt governments, and limited educational opportunities. Historically, women have fared worse.
Through our customized training programs, we lead by example: we accompany and encourage men and women on the ground. Our design teams' regular presence in communities means that we provide professional skills for high-end design production, thus building confidence and prioritizing the success of teamwork.
Our largest client to date has been Sophie Anderson, a British handbag line for which we first began to connect artisans 3 years ago. We have since helped establish 10 associations, providing consistent work for 300 artisans.

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Thank you so much to everyone taking the time to read this story, and just remember that nothing would be possible without your help and kind hearts.
DAR Projects has been working hand-in-hand with over 300 artisans to translate heritage, techniques and materials into contemporary, high quality design objects. Over the course of 3 years of design, production and exports, DAR Projects has built a customized training system for local artisans in partnership with social responsibility partners. Artisans are able to work together and take responsibility for their own success. Through experience and confidence building, stone and textile artisans are directly accessing economic opportunities through their craft heritage.
The Ask:
I have been collecting gently used toys & electronics to ship to Northern Peru to distribute to these artisans and their families for the holidays. As many of the artisans work out of their homes and live below international poverty lines, these donations will mean so much to these families. The toy drive has been a huge success! Through the generosity of many moms in the Ancaster community, we have reached our goal of collecting enough toys to distribute at Christmas.
However, I am now hoping to raise enough money to ship these wonderful donations to Peru in time for Christmas. The costs of shipping are large and I am looking to you, my friends any family, to help support this cause.
Between the shipping, freight, services charges, brokerage fees and taxes I am aiming to collect $2,000 which will allow me to ship 300lbs of toy donations to these families in time for the holidays.
How Does this Fundraiser Work? (UPDATED)
I am looking for cash donations in any denomination; any amount that you feel comfortable contributing is and will be greatly appreciated.
As a special incentive, we have collected a sampling of items produced by the artisans to offer for any larger donations. These would make great Christmas presents and you would be helping a great cause!!
For a $100 donation, you will receive:
(1 of 2 Mini Bucket Bags)
For a $150 donation, you will receive:
(1 of 10 large, round base totes)For a $250 donation, you will receive:
(Only 1 available. Large, leather handle weekend bag)What are the specific steps I need to take if I want to make donation?
*If you do not wish to receive a bag for your donation, you can simply donate and disregard the following steps. You are greatly appreciated!*
1) Make a non-anonymous (full name) donation through this GoFundMe page so we can thank you in person!
2) Fill out this Form
3) Keep an eye out in your inbox for information regarding your bag!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Where will the funds go? How will the donations help?
100% of the funds collected will go directly toward the cost of shipping the toys from Toronto to the artisans in Peru. Because of the prohibitive costs of shipping, I am currently looking into what the most cost effective shipping solution might be. This means a decision between using some sort of courier company or purchasing a plane ticket and paying the baggage overage charges and hand-delivering the items. As we come to a decision about which option turns out to be more cost effective, I will update this page.
How long will this fundraiser go for?
I am hoping to raise all of the money needed to be able to ship the items at the beginning of December. As such, I will be looking for donations until December 1st, 2018.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information:
Vision: DAR Projects delivers that design can act as a bridge between under-developed craft communities and contemporary consumers who want to make a positive impact through their purchases.
By prioritizing quality design within the context of heritage techniques, we create thoughtful products which appeal to a global market while respecting indigenous methods, values and cosmology.
Goal: We aim to connect a high-design artisan brand with reliable commercial opportunities on the global market. Purchases enable artisans to prioritize their unique crafts and maintain the magic of Andean culture.
Social innovation and business go hand-in-hand.
Our core business principle is building trust with our talented team of artisans. The communities we work in have been subject to tumultuous histories, corrupt governments, and limited educational opportunities. Historically, women have fared worse.
Through our customized training programs, we lead by example: we accompany and encourage men and women on the ground. Our design teams' regular presence in communities means that we provide professional skills for high-end design production, thus building confidence and prioritizing the success of teamwork.
Our largest client to date has been Sophie Anderson, a British handbag line for which we first began to connect artisans 3 years ago. We have since helped establish 10 associations, providing consistent work for 300 artisans.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much to everyone taking the time to read this story, and just remember that nothing would be possible without your help and kind hearts.
Organizer
Nicole Barron
Organizer
Ancaster, ON
