What if we could feed families, promote endangered art, and then feed families again?
I am trying to think of creative ways to promote culture and to help people feed themselves. Beggeing is a way of life here. The children beg on the street corners, the older men read your palm sing you a song when you didn't ask for it and then expect you to pay them for an unsolicited service (at least they are trying to give you something in return for your money) It is sad because you want to help and so you give. But then the same person asks you for money the next time they see you, and because you gave the first time, the expect you to give again.
And you don't have the resources to just keep feeding them everyday.
So what do you do? It is easy to get angry at them after a while because they just keep hounding you. the other day I had 4 dollars in my pocket and knew it would be days before I could get any more. But a begger stood before me, refusing to leave until I gave him a dollar so he could buy some soup. His persistence really bothered me and I started to feel angry. I cannot always give and in this case it would really cost me. So I took the dollar out of my pocket and told him my situation. He did not care at all. He took the money, turned his back on me, and then stalked the person on the park bench next to me.
So I am finding that giving to beggers just perpetuates a bad situation.
Enter art
These bags are made by hand. Ok that is nice, but not really that special, right? OK, They are made by Ngobe Indians who lost most of their art when they were invaded by the Spanish 500 years ago (Christopher Columbus actually cleaned his boat here) These bags were considered the highest art form of these people and their design is almost the only art form left to them.
OK, so that made the whole thing a little more personal and a little heart wrenching.
But the cool part is that the fibers they are made from starts with a huge leaf from a pita plant (also known as Agave Americana)
They dry the leaves, split them into fibers and then roll them into threads. Then they use all natural flower, roots and leaves to dye the threads. The one I bought for myself was dyed with hibiscus flowers and yucca roots. THEN they weave them into bag they call kra.
You can buy them in the park from a Ngobe Indian woman. Her name is Elsa and her granddaughters, often make the trip for a poor village on the mainland with her.
I think Elsa is getting tired. When I stopped to buy a bag from her the other day, she had her wonderful pita plant bags with her, but she also had bag made with the same weave, but from simple yarn you can buy in the grocery store.
Time is taking it's toll.
What if we could buy her beautiful bags and give her a good price for them, thereby giving her the motivation to preserve her art and the ability to feed her family?
And then what if we could take those bags and market them to a broader audience. thus creating a bigger market and more work for her (and other women like her)
Ten what if we could take a portion of the money we make from selling those ags all around the world and use it to help others in her village?
Round and round the circle goes and how many people it helps we all hope to know...
I bought my bag today.
What if?
Dreaming Large,
Laura
I am trying to think of creative ways to promote culture and to help people feed themselves. Beggeing is a way of life here. The children beg on the street corners, the older men read your palm sing you a song when you didn't ask for it and then expect you to pay them for an unsolicited service (at least they are trying to give you something in return for your money) It is sad because you want to help and so you give. But then the same person asks you for money the next time they see you, and because you gave the first time, the expect you to give again.
And you don't have the resources to just keep feeding them everyday.
So what do you do? It is easy to get angry at them after a while because they just keep hounding you. the other day I had 4 dollars in my pocket and knew it would be days before I could get any more. But a begger stood before me, refusing to leave until I gave him a dollar so he could buy some soup. His persistence really bothered me and I started to feel angry. I cannot always give and in this case it would really cost me. So I took the dollar out of my pocket and told him my situation. He did not care at all. He took the money, turned his back on me, and then stalked the person on the park bench next to me.
So I am finding that giving to beggers just perpetuates a bad situation.
Enter art
These bags are made by hand. Ok that is nice, but not really that special, right? OK, They are made by Ngobe Indians who lost most of their art when they were invaded by the Spanish 500 years ago (Christopher Columbus actually cleaned his boat here) These bags were considered the highest art form of these people and their design is almost the only art form left to them.
OK, so that made the whole thing a little more personal and a little heart wrenching.
But the cool part is that the fibers they are made from starts with a huge leaf from a pita plant (also known as Agave Americana)
They dry the leaves, split them into fibers and then roll them into threads. Then they use all natural flower, roots and leaves to dye the threads. The one I bought for myself was dyed with hibiscus flowers and yucca roots. THEN they weave them into bag they call kra.
You can buy them in the park from a Ngobe Indian woman. Her name is Elsa and her granddaughters, often make the trip for a poor village on the mainland with her.
I think Elsa is getting tired. When I stopped to buy a bag from her the other day, she had her wonderful pita plant bags with her, but she also had bag made with the same weave, but from simple yarn you can buy in the grocery store.
Time is taking it's toll.
What if we could buy her beautiful bags and give her a good price for them, thereby giving her the motivation to preserve her art and the ability to feed her family?
And then what if we could take those bags and market them to a broader audience. thus creating a bigger market and more work for her (and other women like her)
Ten what if we could take a portion of the money we make from selling those ags all around the world and use it to help others in her village?
Round and round the circle goes and how many people it helps we all hope to know...
I bought my bag today.
What if?
Dreaming Large,
Laura
That's ok. I just ordered one and some cacao too. Can't wait to taste it! A donation option in the cart would be awesome too. That way we could add a donation to the order. I may have missed that on the site. If so I am sorry. Love you Laura and love your awesome heart!
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