Finishing School

We're finishing up this week.

The primary goal of the project is for all ten women to know how to sew a specific bag with a pattern provided by Nest. Over the last six weeks, they have learned the mechanics of sewing, how to work with a pattern and have memorized the details of making a specific product.

Today and tomorrow we are reviewing everything we've learned so far in the course. Tuesday and Wednesday are our "audit" days. We'll be running a quick test on preparing and cutting the fabric for assembly, sewing the bag together, and on machine maintenance and keeping the studio clean. We're doing this to be sure that everyone is comfortable and confident performing each task involved in the bag construction. If anyone is unsure, back to the classroom we go to cover that step again!

the stack of finished sample bags

Ramona J

Ramona has been named head of the cooperative by popular vote. She lives directly in front of the studio, and keeps the key to the sewing studio. Ramona is a true entrepreneur. She and her husband had one shot at establishing a business a few years ago, only to see it devastated by the force of Hurricane George. (See a full blog about her story in a previous post.)

"A program like this has never been proposed here before. Nest will help us a lot because it is opening a path that has always been closed for us. God has given us a light and with Nest’s help we’ll be able to walk down that path of success to our goals in life, and can make our dream come true.

WOW, we will be able to start our own business!" -Ramona Jimenez

Marilin

When fruits are in season, Marilin gathers avocado, mangos, and litchis in the community to sell for a little bit of income. Her husband earns income here and there working on construction projects, but that work is not steady. He was recently able to purchase a motorcycle, which he uses to provide taxi services for a bit more income for the family.

Marilin has been sewing by hand since she was a small child, and has always wanted to learn to sew on a machine but has never had the opportunity until now.

"Nest is going to help me improve the wellbeing of my kids and learn new skills." -Marilin Ramos

Geovanny

Geovanny lives with her two small children and her mother in a house on the main square of the community. Her husband has salaried employment working in construction. Steady jobs are nonexistent in the community, and so her husband works in another town and is only able to return home every eleven days.

Geovanny works a few days a week as a hairstylist, which allows her to bring in more income to supplement what her husband earns. Geovanny's goal for the future is to earn more income herself so that she can remodel and enlarge her house and provide a better future for her children.

Geovanny is on top of it. She is one of the quickest learners in the class and has done perfect work on her machine with little to no guidance. Geovanny is quiet, but she takes her work very, very seriously and is doing a wonderful job. We're looking forward to seeing her progress as a seamstress, she has the potential to be one of the most skilled members of the cooperative.

Margarita

Margarita is one of the more charismatic women of the group. She is usually the first woman to speak up when the group is asked a question. Margarita is one of the best cooks I have ever encountered, and she makes delicious meals for us when we are working in the community. In fact, Margatita's cuisine is so popular, that her recipes have been published in a cookbook.

Margarita is also very proud of the high school diploma that hangs in a frame on her wall. She completely the degree last year. Margarita has five children: four sons and a daughter, who is pregnant with her first grandchild.

"My dream is to start my own business where I work next to people that I love. Within 5 or ten years I see myself having a chain of sewing businesses. Nest is helping a lot by just being here in the community and offering their help. They have taught us how to work as a business, how to sew and how to manage our money in a better way." -Margarita Metz

Ramona C

Ramona is one of the most devoted clients in the group. As our time here at the project is running out, she has been spending more and more time practicing her sewing skills. She appeared on Saturday to use the studio to get some more time in on the machine.

Ramona has three small children, and earns no income herself. She has a very difficult relationship with her husband, and one of her goals is to earn enough income to support herself and her children, so that she may have the option to move into a house of her own.

Saturday Softball Game

The community held a just-for-fun softball game this afternoon. It was a seven-inning afternoon, and the teams were divided by religious preference. 

Jose batting.