Star of Hope strives to help with the economic famine that exists in the communities where we work. It is a difficult and complex issue but one that cries out for a solution. Without a commerce base, sustainabilty of any project in a community is in serious doubt.
One way we are working to help communities grow an economic base is through skills training. These are selected to always be in areas that are realistic and practical for the community.
Starting in the fall of 2010, as part of our Model Project Standards initiative, we are implenting a pilot project where 30 women from the Boyer area will receive professional level seamtress training. They will be taught with appropriate technology and given design skills to enable them to produce products that are marketable both inside Haiti and outside. In addition, they will receive basic business managment and simple accounting training. When they complete the training, each woman will take the machine they learned on,to start their new business, creating financial help for their families.
The cost of training and equiping one participant is $993 and includes the manual sewing machine that they will use to start their business. Any amount will help!
(PS - If you attended a Star of Hope event and chose a Haitian Artisan item and want to make a donation for it, use the above link too.)