Reg Charity No. 1160494            Telephone: 07761 380685
Craft aid international
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Paper-making in Peru and other news...

4/7/2017

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After a very fruitful time in Ecuador, Susie has been in Arequipa for a week, seeing how the project there is getting on and giving support to the team. Yesterday was a historic day, as she and the 'Nuevas Fuerzas' group made the very first maize-leaf paper in Arequipa! A pile of maize is pictured below, with some traditional Peruvian fabric in the background!  "It was massive fun all round" says Susie, "and super productive too. I also met up with 3 of the differently-able outworkers: A pleasure and a privilege to work with these fabulous people." One of the trainees proudly holds up the first piece of finished paper below.
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Meanwhile, in the UK, we have been preparing for Easter, making Easter treats and flower decorations in our community craft sessions. (If you're interested in chocolate...the mini egg buckets below will be sold at St Mark's Church, Harrogate, on Palm Sunday!) Our community craft workshops continue to be a source of fun and creativity in the lives of the differently-able participants. Speaking to one of our regular participants the other week, he said how much he enjoys making things and seeing everybody each week.

​Our hospital craft sessions also continue to be an important opportunity for hospital inpatients to be creative, socialise and practice their motor skills. The participants had great fun marbling paper last week, producing some beautiful results!
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​It has also been encouraging to see several community groups running fundraising events for Craft Aid recently. Last week, Harrogate & District Soroptimists International held a coffee morning in aid of our work, raising £115, plus also selling some of our craft products.

​St Margaret's Church, where we hold some of our weekly craft sessions, have also continued to faithfully support us. This Easter season they are hosting a unique passion play at the church (8th April); entry is free and they're very kindly doing a collection in aid of our work. Please do head to Horsforth for this great evening! You can check out the advert here: ​
https://vimeo.com/206262655. 
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"Crosslight is a communal experience of theatre and worship which draws its audience into the Easter narrative. It tells the events of Christ’s Passion though the eyes of one disciple who failed, despite everything he believed so passionately:
'Caught in the crosslight of the flickering candles at the last supper, the torches of Gethsemane, the firelight in the courtyard, by the searching gaze of his Lord, Simon ‘the rock’ is shattered. The disciple chosen to lead, is in pieces.
As he hangs from the cross, Jesus is surrounded by a jeering crowd, laughing at his claim to be the Son of God. A small group of family and friends stands by until the agony ends. But the great friend who, more than any other, has stood by Jesus throughout the story is conspicuous by his absence.'
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‘A fascinating psychological drama… The show asks questions of its audience about what we learn through failure, the importance of forgiveness and the power of redemption… Tremendous.’ (York Press, 2016)"
Zawadi, St Aidan's School charity run by students, continues to fundraise for Craft Aid, and this April, they're holding a Ceildh for us. Please do join in the fun and come along! There will be live music and plenty of cake and Ceilidh dancing! This is being held at Mowbray Community Church Hall from 7.00-9.30pm on the 29th April. (See the poster for ticket prices.)

It's fantastic to see how our local community has really got behind Craft Aid's vision and is wanting to raise much-needed funds for our work in Peru, Ecuador and the UK. If you'd be interested in holding a fundraising event, please do get in touch and we can supply you with flyers, and any of our products if you wish to hold a stall. ​Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting us whether through fundraising, praying, donating or volunteering, from nearby or afar! We couldn't do any of our work without you! 

And finally, just to say, you can now buy tickets to our Summer Ball! 1st July at Constance Green Hall, St Aidans School, Harrogate. 7.00-11.30pm. Book early to avoid disappointment! 
​https://craftaidinternational.charitycheckout.co.uk/page1
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Written by
Ella Green

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Pom-Pom Magic

11/4/2016

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We've been super busy this last month creating some rather splendid Christmas garlands and wreathes. Glitter, as usual has been involved! But this year, we've also introduced some new pom-pom products. Pom-poms came into fashion this spring, and it's a trend that has stayed in the shops this summer and autumn. Now you can carry this fashion into your homes for Christmas with our fabulous new pom-pom wreathes! (Sneak peak above) We've been making them at our therapeutic craft sessions using wool that has kindly been donated to us. 
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Pom-poms are also going to feature at our exhibition at the Knitting and Stitching Show, one of the biggest craft fairs in Europe (see Tash's last blog post). It's being held at the Harrogate International Centre from the 24th-27th November. Our differently-able participants and volunteers will be selling our products there and teaching visitors how to make poms-poms using our special pom-pom gadgets! (Much better than the old school method using a cardboard circle!) You can now book your tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show on their website: http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/harrogate.  Please do come and say hi to us and have a look at our beautiful craft kits and products, all handmade in the UK & Peru by differently-able artisans. 
This month we've also been preparing for other selling opportunities and events. We're especially looking forward to our Candle-lit Carol service on the 1st December at St Peter's Church in Harrogte town centre. It's the perfect time and location for anyone in town to come along after work for some mulled wine and mince pies and sing some traditional carols together. We'll also be selling some of our products - a great opportunity to find some Christmas gifts! The service will feature a beautiful solo performance by acclaimed vocalist and harpist, Lucy Bunce.  Some of you may have enjoyed the concert she held for us last year. It will be a wonderful time to enjoy some peace and calm, in what can often be quite a frenetic season. Entry is free! 
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Whilst we're busy here in Yorkshire with craft sessions and events, our volunteers and employees in Arequipa have also been working hard. Fiona and Chris Courtman have now moved to work full-time at the project for the next few years, so we'll be sharing more about them and their work very soon... ​

Written by
Ella Green

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"You don't look disabled!"

10/12/2016

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Natasha first came to our craft sessions as a participant, but she now volunteers for us and sometimes writes articles about our work too. Here's a snippet from her latest piece of writing. Keep an eye out for this article in Harrogate newspapers! 
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"I cannot believe that in 2016 people with any form of disability are made to feel worthless and face discrimination on a daily basis. With the Olympics and Paralympics still fresh in our minds, we should now hope that people with all forms of disability, whether it's mental, physical, or emotional, get recognised with their own rights, and are given the recognition they all deserve, whether they are famous or not.

My name is Natasha, I have epilepsy and a form of dyslexia. On the outside, I look like an everyday person. Alas, I sometimes have problems fitting into society. I have been known to get strange looks when I show the conductor my bus pass. Some get really big eyes when I say, “Oh mine is a Disabled pass....” "But what is wrong with you?”, they all think. “You don't look disabled.”

I am a very creative, people person, who loves to make things, help others to learn new skills and make craft goods. Not having all the skills, space, or equipment myself, I am honoured to be able to volunteer for Craft Aid International. It's one of the only places I feel accepted.

At the beginning of the craft classes, everyone bustles around, helping to unload the car, and set up the equipment. Then we have a brief meeting about what we are making today, and if needed, we’re given instructions on how to make the items. Then once all the participants have arrived, the fun begins! And we get to choose one of up to four different crafts. We make greetings cards, flower brooches, mosaics, jewellery, marbled paper and more. At the moment, we are making Christmas goods!
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100% of all the money raised goes straight back to the charity. The craft classes are free of charge, with a break half way through, for a cosy chat, drink, cake or biscuit, sometimes even a homemade one!
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We are now very excited about our biggest event of the year, the Knitting and Stitching Show, (24- 27th November), which is being held at the Harrogate International Centre. The stall will be run by volunteers and the disabled participants, giving them the amazing opportunity to meet and greet visitors, and take part in the event. Also it gives everyone the perfect opportunity to meet our participant and get to know a little about them. Then they can get a true sight of what Craft Aid International is all about. They’ll get to see some of the goods that we make, and the story behind them.
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​At our stall, you’ll see our stunning handmade Christmas cards, snow flake craft packs, Christmas garlands, alongside our all-year-round goodies: a wide range of greeting cards, packs of marbled paper shapes and felt flowers. Then there will be Peru goods, including handmade jewellery, beads made out of cereal boxes, a wide range of greeting cards, Peruvian fabrics, and cushions made with traditional Peruvian material.

We will also have lots of different wools, and with the help of our friendly volunteers, you will have a chance to make your very own funky Pom-Pom. All we ask is a small donation, and for you to remember us, and tell all your friends about us! We look, forward to seeing you there to share in our excitement!" ​​​ ​
You can read the full article here.

Written by
Natasha Nathan

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It's not just about the crafts...

5/19/2016

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So perhaps this is a slightly odd title for a charity blog based around craft... There is obviously no Craft Aid International without the craft! However, I was reminded again today that the work of CAI is about so much more than teaching differently-able people new craft skills. At our Starbeck session this afternoon, we had our usual tea break, and as we sat around munching on some very delicious chocolate and banana cake, we chatted about jewellery, barbecues, and holidays. We also talked about some of the hard things we'd been going through: loss and illness and discrimination. It's beautiful to see that CAI's craft sessions are not only a time to have some craft fun, but they are also  a safe space to share the joys and struggles of life. I found a facebook post from nearly a year ago, which sums this up perfectly:​
This is one of the great things about Craft Aid International, it's not just about the crafts - it's also about time spent chatting, connecting and sharing.
And it's not just during our tea-breaks that we get the chance to have a chat, there's also plenty of time to catch up on life as we get on with the crafts. Another key part of our workshops is learning to work together as a team. Today some of us worked together to make cards, using a letterpress technique, whilst some of us dyed t-shirts, and others worked on cutting shapes out of marbled paper. Below are some of the beautiful results!  
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Written by
Ella Green

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What Craft Aid International means to me

5/10/2016

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Natasha originally came to our craft sessions as a participant (see her last blog post about the craft sessions), but she now volunteers with us too and does a brilliant job. Here she writes about her experience and all the skills she’s learnt:
 
“I now not only help out at craft class, but also help at different talks, and craft stalls, where we get the opportunity to show the world the wonderful work done by Craft Aid International. We get to meet people and spread the word about CAI’s work. We write down what is sold, so that we know what products the consumer likes to buy,

I love the craft sessions too, and have now learned to always go with an open mind. I never think I know how to make everything, because I’m always amazed by all the new and exciting crafts we learn every week. So far I have learnt how to do tie-dying, how to make jewellery, felt flower accessories and paper-beads.

Some of my most enjoyable times have been working closely with the other disabled participants, giving them one to one help and support when needed. Or just, being there for them. All the smiles, laughter and joy warms my heart. The pride that you both feel when you see the finished item is priceless. I would love to bottle it all, and give it as a present to the families of the participants. I would love them to see the participants’ work. I think it would be really rewarding for them, in every way imaginable.”

Written by
Natasha Nathan

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New people, new products, new Peru film and plenty of poppies

5/3/2016

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We had a fantastic craft session in Horsforth on Friday: 5 participants visited for the first time, so we all made some new friends, and the volunteers did a wonderful job of welcoming everyone in. We got stuck into some crafts for our new product line (watch this space), as well as carrying on with some of our classic products too, including the flower brooches and hair accessories. The participants were so productive cutting out the felt flowers that we ended up with practically a whole poppy field! 
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 At break-time, we had tea and biscuits as usual (we have a few big biscuit fans in the group...including myself) and also watched our new short film about CAI's project in Peru. We've just posted it on the website this weekend, so you can now watch it here .

This 3 minute film captures some of the stories I heard when I was in Arequipa in March. It gives just a tiny insight into some of the many hardships faced by people with disabilities in Peru, as well showing the new freedom enjoyed by the people employed at the social enterprise. Something I heard whilst I was there, which didn't make it into the film, was a sad story from one of the women I spoke to. She told me that disability is often seen to be contagious, and so employers don't want disabled people to be part of their workforce. They are afraid of being around them, in case they 'catch a disability'. This is the kind of view that Craft Aid International really hopes to challenge in places like Arequipa.  Neema Crafts Centre (set up by our director, Susie) has successfully been overcoming these sorts of false assumptions and bringing healing to people, who've spent their lives being ignored by their communities.  We're only at the beginning of this journey in Arequipa, but we hope that this new social enterprise will not only provide employment, but will also break down barriers and unite communities in a very real and powerful way. 
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Written by
Ella Green

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Eye-catching fashion!

3/29/2016

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Ella writes: After a whirlwind of a time in Peru, we arrived back in the UK a week ago. We returned to Lima for a day after leaving Arequipa to find a few more specific beads for the jewellery prototypes (such as the one in the photo above) that Ellie, Susie and Fiona had designed during the week. In Lima, we visited a silver jewellery shop, where the lady serving us asked Susie where her bracelet was from. It was one of the bracelets we had made in Arequipa with the group of people with learning disabilities. It was really encouraging to hear that there could be a market for such a product in Peru, especially from someone who is in the jewellery business herself. 

Since coming back to the UK, we've been working on a new Craft Aid film about the project in Peru, so keep a look out for this on our website (coming soon to a computer screen near you!) Whilst we were away, the craft sessions in Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds continued as usual, and some of our volunteers held an Easter stall, selling some of the crafts made in our sessions (I hear that fluffy chicks and chocolate were a feature.)

There is lots coming up for Craft Aid over the next few months, including an exhibition at a Christian youth event and our Summer Ball. (Head over to the events page and book your tickets!) Preparations are now getting underway!
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We will also be putting lots of energy into fundraising for the new craft centre in Arequipa over the next couple of months. We've raised a huge amount already, and the small baptist church in Arequipa have done a fantastic job of raising funds too. We've got half the money we need to buy a building, but time is limited. The building that we are particularly interested in won't stay on the market forever. If you would like to put on a fundraising event for us, or donate to the project, please do get in touch or go to our donate page. Any amount you can give will make a difference! The project is already transforming lives of differently-able people in the community, but there is still so much further to go if we want to have the space to train and employ the many people currently on the streets, who are living with a disability.
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They will run and not grow weary...

3/16/2016

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Yesterday, we worked with (and partied with!) the larger group of people with learning disabilities from Nuevas Fuerzas and taught them how to make paper beads. They all seemed to enjoy learning a new skill and getting rather gluey! And they had produced some fantastic snazzy beads by the end of the morning. After lunch, they had a party (Peru is an amazing place to go if you like a good party. They have a wonderful way of celebrating all kinds of occasions!) and we got to join in with all the singing and dancing. There was no escape, even for us awkward British folk! But once we got over our initial reluctance, we had a lot of fun and we even attempted to follow some of their Peruvian dance steps. I was really struck by the beautiful energy of this group. Their name is Nuevas Feurzas, which means New Strength. It is a reference to a verse in the Bible that talks about God renewing our strength. It couldn't be more relevant! Like the verse in the Bible, these young people seem able to "run and not grow weary". They continued to dance, even after the party seemed to be coming to an end. Meeting this amazing group of people was a massive encouragement to me. Only a couple of days ago, one of the women at the church was telling me that people with disabilities are often hidden away at home in Peru, so it was fantastic to see that this can change. The participants came with their mothers, who enjoyed having some time to relax during the craft session and also having the chance to join in the party fun. There was a real atmosphere of joy and everyone clearly felt at home. It is hard to fully describe (even for an English graduate who likes words...), so here are a few photos, which hopefully reflect something of the joyousness of the group!
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Training, talking and turkey!

3/15/2016

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Ella writes: Yesterday was a very productive day! Ellie and Fiona, our new design volunteers, sorted out some things for their stay here (they will soon be appearing on our meet the team page!) and Ellie also taught one of the differently-able artisans how to make a new earring design, which she picked up extremely quickly! We found out how she and her sister, another one of the differently-able artisans, had been getting on with the new bracelets over the weekend, and they had already produced twenty high quality bracelets in one afternoon!

I had the chance to interview her, as well as the two ladies who run the group for people with disabilities at the church. There is so much I could write about here, but time is a little limited, as we are about to head off to the church again. The thing that struck me most was actually quite a small detail, but I think it speaks clearly of the joy that Craft Aid's work brings. One of the ladies told me that the differently-able workers are so happy to now be earning some money, which allows them to contribute to family life. One of the participants bought the turkey for the Christmas dinner for the first time ever this year!

Later in the afternoon, we bought a few materials for the session today and briefly visited the shop where some of our products are sold. I finished the day with a hot chocolate Peruvian-style; this involved cream and vanilla ice cream!

Now off to meet the group of people with learning disabilities at the church to make some paper beads!
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Loving and sharing across borders

3/11/2016

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Ella writes: Over the last couple of days, we've been catching up with Nuevas Fuerzas, the group of differently-able people at the church, whom we are working with. On Thursday, we spoke to the wonderful women who oversee the group and discussed some of the things that had been going well, as well as some of the challenges. We also taught them how to make paper beads, the perfect product as Susie explained: easy to make, free resources, recycled materials, and beautiful to wear as necklaces or bracelets. The women will then be able to teach this new skill to the larger group of people with learning disabilities at the church. Then yesterday, Ellie taught some of the smaller group of people with physical disabilities how to make some of the stunning new bracelets, which she has been designing. They learnt really quickly and produced some very beautiful results!

However, I have been learning that establishing a craft-based social enterprise is so much more than just teaching people to make stuff! Perhaps that is obvious, but it constantly amazes me how much goes on behind the scenes that most people will never know about. There are so many things to consider, especially when working in two different cultures: what your market is, or indeed markets, as the English and Peruvian market may be quite different, what sort of facilities are needed for the project to grow and succeed, what kinds of skills they can learn, how much each differently-able artisan can earn, what sorts of materials to buy and whether they are cost-effective, and that is only a tiny proportion of some of the things we've been discussing with the women who run Nuevas Fuerzas.

There is also the added complication of having to work in a different language and culture. Having said that, I think there is something very beautiful when people from different cultures work together successfully. We can learn so much from each other. As a team from England, we are so aware of the dangerous possibility that we could impose our western ideas upon the people we are working with in Peru. However, since being here I have been struck by the fact that working with the church changes things a bit, because our core motivation is to love and to serve, not to regard ourselves better than each other but to hold everything in common and to share our skills and resources freely with those in need, of all faiths and none. I think this is important, because this changes the dynamic completely. As a body of people, we need each other's gifts and skills. Ellie can share her skills in Peru, in the same way that Flor, one of our Peruvian volunteers, can come over to England to share her gifts. The baptist church we are working with here, also runs a centre to help men suffering from drug addiction. This has been supported by churches in Brazil. It is so encouraging to see how churches from all over the world can come together to show God's love to vulnerable people in our communities.
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    Authors:

    Susie Hart MBE
    Director of Craft Aid International
    Textile designer, Crafts instructor, Social entrepreneur, CMS Mission - Associate

    Liz Cluderay
    UK Programmes Officer and Volunteer Coordinator

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