| Women's Stories |
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A few inspiring stories of the life change brought about through Threads of Hope...
Moya Moya is a woman with an intuitive and deep sense of wisdom and kindness. Her quiet presence and knowing eyes tell of the depth of her character. Moya's house was not really even a house when she came to Threads of Hope. It was made of bits and pieces of plank, plywood, pallets, cardboard, and pieces of corrugated iron. She had a roof, but with drizzle able to come in various places. She knew very little about sewing when she started, but she was persistent in her desire to learn. Since starting in the project in 2000 she has learned a great deal and become a fine textile artist. With her first years´ profit from her sewing, Moya, a single mother, built a security wall around her land and continues to build a proper home for her and the children. There is still much building to be done inside the now brick and cement house, but all the profit for the last four years has gone to help Gustavo (her oldest son) study law! Her daughter Ingrid recently finished high school and hopes to continue her studies to become a teacher; her mother will support and encourage her to pursue her dream. Her other children are in school or working. Moya has blossomed over the years and is now president of the original sewing group; she has gained tremendous self-confidence as she is empowered to leave behind the old life of poverty. She has joined a local church in the area where she lives and is now a faithful member. Her new life is the fruit of all the encouragement, teaching and love she has received over the years in the Threads of Hope project weekly meetings. God is at work restoring Moya and her family…sewing a bright new future for them all.
UPDATE: Gustavo successfully completed law school and has passed the exams…thanks to the work of his mother, and their mutual determination to make a better life, the future looks ever so bright.
Reina Reina is a single mother, a wee little lady with three young-adult children, and beautiful twin grandbabies! In spite of a difficult life Reina has a bright and beautiful smile that echoes the spirit of this remarkable woman. Reina’s abusive marriage ended many years ago when she was pregnant with her third child. For a number of years she and the children lived with family, but her fierce determination to make a better life for herself and her children eventually led her to begin work with Threads of Hope. When she began sewing her textile art, she worked on her bed and a very small table. In the eight subsequent years in the project she has built her own home with cement walls, furniture, an indoor kitchen and electricity. She is so proud of this achievement. Reina does beautiful work and has relied entirely on Threads of Hope income to provide food, school expenses, clothing, and medical expenses. Her girls have both been given the opportunity of an education. She was able to provide alternative schooling for her son in the provinces away from Lima where he lived with family to get him away from gang activity. This proved a great success and brought him back to the joy of learning. This intervention was possible because of her profit from her work with Threads of Hope. Reina has had TB twice but she perseveres out of love her children and grandchildren and a desire to do well. Her bright smile says it all. Reina has hope. Hope for her children, hope for herself, and a sense of strength and self-worth that have come through the empowerment of making her way out of poverty.
Rosa
Rosa was the original teacher for the group some years ago, and now her only income is from Threads of Hope. She founded the second sewing group in 2000, and is a most gifted artist with her needle. Rosa has the gift of teaching and has become the mentor for the new group members who are learning the textile arts of Peru. As of 2009 Rosa remains a leader in the group, the finest artisan, and has commissioned work hanging in Starbuck’s in San Antonio, Texas. Rosa has six children; her husband is no longer part of the family. Three generations of the family work together on the textiles, rather like a family workshop with everyone involved in the sewing. The two younger children make the small fruits and vegetables sewn into the pieces, while the older daughters work on collage pictures of their own. Grandmother helps with the children so Rosa can attend to her artistry. Edith Edith has three children. Her husband was out of work for a long while, but he has learned to sew and now works for much of the day sewing with Edith. Juan, the oldest son, is in his third and last year of study to be a mechanic, paid for from the profits. Jorge finished school recently and is now doing work as a bus conductor, but also hopes to study mechanics. Evelyn is still in school and also enjoys sewing.
In the early days of her work Edith's house was roofed with the profits from her work. All the family, friends and neighbors joined in for a roof raising. At the end of the project, a meal was provided for everyone and it was quite a feast day. As of 2008 Edith’s home is complete with running water, electricity, a proper kitchen and bath, as well as tiled floors Marina Marina grew up in Bolivia, away from her family and never went to school. She married and came to Lima when she had three children (she now has 5). Marina was forced to leave her daughter, Susana, with family in Puno as it was going to be difficult to work and find an adequate place to live. Her husband now works at one of the Lima Municipalities. Her oldest son, Reynaldo has just completed his teacher training, all paid for from his mother´s work. Her second son, Mateo is studying bakery (paid for by Marina). Samuel and Jose are in school. They now have a brick house built gradually over the years, with doors and bathrooms added with the profits. Her family has been reunited, and good things continue to happen through her work and empowerment as an intelligent, wise, and capable woman.
Susana Susana, the daughter of Marina, eventually moved to Lima and works with Threads of Hope too. She met and married her husband and now lives with him and baby Daniel. Daniel is the MOST loved and cared-for baby in the world, and Susana tranquilly sees to him, takes him everywhere, and works with him on her back when necessary. It is lovely to see them so happy, and Susana reunited with her mother. ToH provides the opportunity for so many levels of healing and restoration in the lives of the women...Susana and her reconciliation with her family is an example of the ripple effects of this great project.
Alejandrina Alejandrina has seven children and one grandson, all living at home with her. The three oldest children work. Julia is studying nursing, paid for from the profits. Maria has just finished high school and has a temporary job; she hopes to study Hotels and Tourism. Michel and Denise, twins, are still in school. Her marriage is difficult, but Alejandrina works hard to make a better life for her children, pouring her profits into their futures. Her detemination to make a good life is an inspiration to all who witness her love and commitment. She is a dear lady, with a huge heart of gratitude for all that she experiences through Threads of Hope.
Threads of Hope is an economic development project of SEED Charitites, a 501c3 charitable non-profit
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