The
craft training project of 2014
for
the women of villages
Madiha,
Walgama and Kamburugamon
in
southern Sri Lanka
We
are looking for a skillfull person to lead a craft project for 25 to
30 Sri Lankan women.
Do
you have three months time ?
Are
you artistic and have craftmanship ?
Would
you like to discover the life of southern Sri Lanka, the diamond of
The Indian Ocean?
You
are welcome!
The
cause - emigration for money
Every
year over 200 000 people leave Sri Lanka in search of a richer and
better life in the Arab countries like Jordan, Liban, Quatar, Dubai
etc. where they work as housekeepers or hotel and restaurant
cleaners.
The
recruiters -agencies in search of cheap labor- eagerly take advantage
of the fact that most of the villagers are very poor and uneducated
and unable to read the contracts they sing.
After
arriving to the destination countries the workers' passports are
seized by a local agency or their employers. The first wages are held
back as payment of the trip so the employee may work without pay for
up to a year. The work days last up to 18 hours.
After
years of hard work the employee might get a breaf vacation to visit
home. She usually gets some money with her, not much but still more
than an average Sri Lankan earns. This is not all of their wages, the
rest remains with the employers for assurance of returning. Again the
trip is not free -it must be repayed with labor. Sometimes they get
no pay ergo it is impossible for them to get back home.
The
only right they have is the right to remain silent.
The
departure of a mother destroys family life. The children suffer
particularly. The absence of the mother can last for years, if not
definitely.
Our
aim – craftmanship and independence
We
want to prevent the mothers of our 41 girl proteges from leaving the
country for a false illusion. We want them to learn a profession, to
design and to create -and ultimately be able to provide for
themselves. It is not just to create financial wealth but to raise
the dignity and self-determination of village women. And for them to
be able to work at home.
After
33 years of war Sri Lanka now has peace. The tourism is growing every
year which is an opportunity to create and develop small businesses.
Sri Lanka is poor of souvenirs and handicraft except for beautiful
but expensive batique and wooden sculptures that are too big to take
home.
The
three year process
The
three month intensive trainig period is the beginning of a three year
process of introducing recyclable and natural materials to the
village women and finally to help them to develop small businesses.
To design, prepare and to sell products and to manage the profit, to
learn accounting and how to invest and share the gain.
We
hope to start the training in January 2014.
The
associationLittle
Blue Elephant is urgently looking for
a skillfull project leader to the ladies of the three villages
devided in small groups.
Age
is not of importance, but skills in English are needed.
Don't
think you have nothing to give – you'r experience is valuable! The
women are open to learn.
The
Little
Blue Elephant Ass. is a small
organisation in Finland. Unfortunately we cannot finance your travel
or your stay in Sri Lanka but we promise you support and guidance and
an unforgettable experience of Sri Lankan life.
We
are happy to give you more information.
Danielle
Rolser 358 (0) 50 307 8947
Kiira
Ilmarinen 358 (0) 46 530 4699
facebook :
Danielle Rolser, Pieni Sininen Elefantti Ry / Little Blue Elephant
Ass.
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