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Crafts of Hope
Using crafts ... to fulfill hope
What is Crafts of Hope?
Crafts of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the disadvantaged women and children earn a livelihood by learning and applying a valuable skill. We were introduced to the plight of these women and children and were inspired to make a difference by the volunteers at Home of Hope, Inc. (www.hohinc.org) who work tirelessly and compassionately to improve the living conditions of orphaned and abandoned children.
Crafts of Hope believes that the best way to help these women and children is to empower them with skills that will help them sustain a livelihood. We are hoping to achieve this by training women and children from various Home of Hope projects in the skill of crocheting and providing this online store as an outlet for selling their handicrafts. All profits go directly to Home of Hope and solely benefit the women and children.
Although we are starting with projects in India, one day we hope to expand to other countries.
Initially, we were introduced to the plight of young girls in one of the Home of Hope Locations in Uttar Pradesh, India, called the Mijwan Welfare Society. These village girls were originally being married at the young age of twelve or thirteen and were stuck in a downward spiral of male dominance. Mijwan Welfare Society provided them with opportunities by teaching them how to sew. We support this idea as an excellent way to empower them with techniques that will sustain a livelihood, and changing a tradition that is thousands of years old. Training them with another skill of crocheting, and providing an online store as a primary outlet for their handicrafts, gives them a new path in life, and all profits are sent through Home of Hope to their School.
In the summer of 2010, Crafts of Hope visited with the students at the Society for the Education of the Crippled in Mumbai, India, and were overwhelmed by their artistic talents. We have begun with four of their paintings, created into a set of 8 cards for your personal use. If you love each of them equally, the card package can be 2 of each painter's work; if one of the cards truly speaks to you, ask for 8 of this work only, or any combination that appeals to you!
How can you help?
There are many ways you can make a tremendous difference. When you purchase a hand-woven scarf, or a fun jacket for a small dog, or a set of Cards, the profits of each order will go directly to the location where these children live. Your dollars will help pay for:
- salaries of the women and children crocheting
- monthly salaries of the teacher
- the costs for improving the classrooms
- purchasing more yarns
- paying for the shipping of woven products to the United States
- expanding the number of canvases, oil paint and water colors
The Value of Crochet
Crochet
is an easy to learn skill and results in a wide array of wonderful and
useful creations. On this site you will see hand made shawls, scarves,
caps, cardigans and more for kids, teens, adults as well as pets. You
will cherish the unique, charming and intricate designs that are made
with love and care.
These handicrafts are exquisite gifts for
birthdays, anniversaries and special events. They make for thoughtful
gifts that will give joy to the recipient while empowering a
disadvantaged woman or child.
The Value of the Cards
To be born with a handicap, or to succumb to a disease that is rare in the United States, requires an true strength of character to survive, let alone find an artistic outlet to blossom. The children who have discovered their capabilities to draw, to paint and to create is how they see the gifts in the world, and hope you enjoy each topic they chose to paint, each color they are embraced by, each brush stroke they take.
Here is a video that introduces you to some of the women and children participating in Crafts of Hope.
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