Seamstress apprentices in our Income Generation program have been stitching children's clothing, headbands and assisting head seamstress, Esther, in sewing handbags, aprons, skirts and scarves. We sell these items here, which provides income for these ladies. There are three hairstylist apprentices, Joyce, Linda and Faustina, who also need to earn income during their apprenticeship, so one of our summer interns, Kelsey, came up with an idea that we are excited to share with you. Since one of the first skills a new hairstylist apprentice learns is braiding, Kelsey designed a braided fabric wrap bracelet that is embellished with recycled beads. She did a tutorial for the women, which we sent to Ghana so they could learn how to make the bracelet. We provided funds for fabric and beads, and Isaac went shopping. After he purchased the fabric and beads, the ladies gathered at our office in Ankaase and spent an afternoon making the bracelets.
A group who traveled to Ghana graciously couriered the finished bracelets back to the U.S., and now we have over 30 bracelets that were created by these hairstylist apprentices. They are beautiful - all different and unique. A loop at the end of the bracelet slips over one of the beads to secure it aroumd the wrist. They come in two sizes, medium and large, and can be wrapped according to the size of your wrist.
Our products will soon be available at a physical location in Tulsa, Okla., and also on our expanded online store. We are still gathering inventory and soon we'll be sharing with you a new way to connect your shopping experience with the artisans who make the products you are purchasing. Stay tuned. In the meantime, we are always in need of donations for fabric apprentices can use to create the beautiful products that help them earn income. Donate for fabric here.