How it began
As the business course concluded last month, the HopeforMENA team sought to expand horizons and branch into a new project. They were aware that several women in the refugee community were fond of and skilled at crochet. Thus, was born the idea for a women’s handcraft group.
In order to find out who would be interested in the project, the team sent sign up forms to the school for the children to take home to their mothers. They were given the date of the first meeting with their prospective group members and the MENA team, if it interested them.
Crochet, and much more
The team were gathered in a circle of North African refugee women as one of their number related her first encounter with the handcraft idea. “When my child handed me the paper about the handcraft opportunity, I knew that this was an answer from God,” she said with a smile. Her words encouraged everyone, as a handcraft business was testing new waters for workers and refugees alike. They would have to learn from one another as they went along. Fortunately, the buzz of enthusiasm and ideas gave the journey a good start.
It wasn’t long before the team discovered that the refugee women knew more than just the art of crochet; some were skilled in beadwork as well: necklaces and earrings that represented the colors and designs of their culture. Furthermore, the team introduced the prospect of making bowls out of paper maché; an unknown craft in their area that cost very little to make. The women loved the idea and learned very quickly.
The conclusion of two workshop sessions hosted in one of the mother’s homes found a group of women happily chatting to their new friends they had made over the course of the handcraft project. The floor was covered with their newly painted paper maché bowls, and their laps were full of crochet creations either in the making or finished.
Before goodbyes at the end of the day, one of the mothers said to the group at large, “I am very thankful to learn this new skill and that we could meet each other.” There seemed to be a growing spark of hope for the future, now that they were not facing it alone.
The challenge ahead…
This project is breaking new grounds of opportunity for the refugee community by empowering women to do what they are good at and what they love. They will meet with the team again at the start of January. Until then, they were challenged to make a set of bowls to show the team, who will search the market for a venue to sell their unique creations. Already there has been some promise of business.
How to be involved
If handcraft is your passion, we invite you to join us! The women’s fellowship through handcraft is a great way to impact in lives that can only change for the better. If you wish to pray for this project and the people involved, here are three key points for intercession:
- A team to meet with the women’s group to help them improve and sell their products
- For the women to develop a friendship and common goal together as they strive to improve their families’ lives through handcraft
- For their quality products to find happy customers
By Christine K. for Hope for MENA