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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!
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.
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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