Trapped. Overlooked. Forgotten. That’s often how we feel. Yes, we have disabilities, but we’re so much more than that. Spend a few moments with us and you’ll see we are a group of dedicated, hard-working individuals. We’re already on the way to discovering and learning how to use our craft-based skills and we know we have the potential to turn these skills into businesses.
Keep track of this project as it gets up and running
Their six month journey of possibility!
Here’s the headlines!
Six Artisans have learnt to screen print and are creating high quality patterned fabric for items like cosmetic bags, oven gloves and cushion covers.
Steven, Limber and Adolfo are working on their first set of orders!
They all feel confident to screen print and can see that this will help provide an income for their families.
Limber has shown a real talent and along with Steven and Adolfo is keen to train other Artisans.
Frederico, Mauro and Andes are practising their screen-printing techniques before they begin to produce fabric for customers.
All six Artisans are making cards alongside their training and together earnt £5,000!
Steven’s journey of possibility
Steven has set up a room in his home as his workshop. He has worked hard through the training programme to perfect his technique alongside making and selling his cards. He is now producing fabric to a very high standard and can explain each step of the process clearly and confidently - he could easily train others in the future.
Steven came to our next generation project in 2019 and took to paper and card making easily. He has found a joy in card making especially as much of the last two years was spent in isolation due to restrictions. He says ‘I feel sad when I don’t make cards, but making cards relaxes me!’
We are excited to see how Steven’s journey of possibility unfolds as he develops his screen printing work.
By Jenny Rooke
Limber showing his talent!
Training has begun!
Delighted to share that Artisans’ training is now underway and they are already learning new skills!
We had hoped that the training could happen in-person, but the on-going restrictions and their vulnerability to the virus has meant that the Artisans have to remain at home. So Carlos and Jess, the project team, have purchased and delivered all the equipment they’ll need and have begun individual workshop sessions for all the Artisans.
The screen printing needed specially made tables at the correct height for wheelchair users. A local carpenter has built the tables and these were all delivered along the equipment.
Adolfo and Limber have already started their training and are loving the chance to learn new skills, which will help expand the range of craft items they can produce and sell.
Adolfo
Limber
Your donation has made this happen!
Thank you for being the spark to the Artisans of Santo Domingo!
By Jenny Rooke
Learning to screen print
Project funded!
We are delighted that the Adept Artisans of Santo Domingo’s spark project is now fully funded! We are currently sharing this good news with Adolfo, Adriana and the other artisans.
We thank everyone who donated so very generously giving these amazing individuals further specialised craft training and tools and support for their home workshops. You have been the spark to help them support themselves and their families.
We will be in touch very soon with a thank you postcard followed by regular updates on how they are progressing as they get their poverty-fighting ventures underway.
Thank you for being the spark to Adolfo, Adriana and the Adept Artisans of Santo Domingo.
By Amy Simpson
Their story
Seeing beyond disability
It’s hard to feel self-worth when your skills are overlooked because of your disabilities. We all have families to care for, but the past has been a daily struggle to rise above our circumstances and just put food on the table.
We feel quite emotional when we remember the time Project Possible reached out to us and saw beyond our disabilities. Many of us were living in varying states of depression, but now we have a community that believes in us. They have mentored us and invested in us. They are training us up in the basic skills of craftsmanship. We now use our hands to create beautiful hand-made cards.
WIth grit and determination, we’ve made it this far already, but will you help us write the next chapter of our story? To turn our new skills into a business that will sustain our families, we need investment to access specialist training. This will help us diversify our skills so that we can set-up unique artisan businesses from our homes.
The budding artisans receive their training
“I’d love to increase the range of things I can make and sell, to the project and to the rest of my community. This will help me continue to provide for my sons’ needs for many years to come.”
Adriana’s dream
Their project
A business for the whole community
We’re working together with our Ecuadorian partners from Artizan International, to ensure this project supports Adolfo, Adriana and four fellow artisans in the best way possible and that the impact of good business will be felt across their community.
We’ll be working closely with our partners to:
Fund four months of specialised crafts training for six men and women with disabilities
Provide all the tools needed to set up their home workshops
Purchase a set amount of work from each artisan every month to ensure their regular income.
Adriana and her fellow artisans
Other Spark projects
Bite-size, time-bound poverty-fighting ventures
Uganda
The Fair-Trading Farmers of Soroti
100% funded
Local women, who’ve known poverty and hunger, are setting up enterprises to trade good quality local produce at competitive prices.
