I can personally attest to the work that Threads of Hope does in Peru, both in its original work in Lima with the arpilleras and now in the expansion work with the weaving and embroidery it is doing in the remote areas in the Andes mountains.
Having lived in Peru for 9 years, I have seen these women come together for fellowship and teaching; work side by side, learning techniques, color combinations, and quality control to produce beautiful art. Seeing and hearing the stories of what they have been able to do with the funds they receive from their work has been such a blessing to them, their communities, and those who buy their work. These women learn a craft, pursue it, and are able to stay at home to take care of their children and families. The women are paid a fair wage for their work and they and their work are valued.
Thank you Threads of Hope for providing all this and enriching our homes and world.
As a volunteer and as a donor, I look forward to bringing Threads of Hope to my church for the third (!) year this year.
First, the textiles are absolutely beautiful. My woven purse and beautiful embroidered belt make me smile each time I see them. It's a beautiful piece of art made by women that I get to enjoy every day. So when we host a sale, I see other people get *excited* about these textiles, just because they are lovely.
And that's when the second part comes in: this is a non-profit that truly changes the lives of women artisans, their families, and their communities. Through donations, Threads of Hope maintains very low overhead so that money returns to the artisans, supporting health care, housing, and children's school fees. Buyers love knowing that the money returns to Peruvian communities. Supporters' donations to ToH make that possible!
It's also easy to work with ToH. They make it easy to host a show and teach you everything you need to know to ring up items. Even packing up and returning the items was seamless and straightforward. That's the way it has to be for working-mom-volunteers :)
Threads of Hope sells their artisan creations at our event, the Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art. They do a great job of educating and involving North Americans in this terrific partnership: women shopping for their own homes in our town and women making beautiful products to support their homes and families in remote places where opportunities are limited. Each object conveys the spirit and hope of its maker. They also pay close attention to design, display and seeking creations that have maximum appeal to our shoppers.
Jan Orr-Harter, Show Director, Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art fortworthshow.com
Threads of Hope is such a win-win story. I have volunteered selling these beautiful things for 8-10 years. I have also Bought many wall hangings, and bible covers. I decorated my granddaughter ‘s nursery with wall hangings that tell storys from the Bible.
The selfless, smart and able administrator inspires all of us. Over the years, this organization has made it possible for hundreds of women to bring their families out of poverty.
I am a volunteer, customer and donor.
Love this organization because our goal is to make strides in poverty alleviation, one family at a time. And we are doing just that! I know that sounds questionable, but here's how it works. We provide jobs to impoverished women in different areas in Peru. They create these beautiful textiles. We pay for each item by Peruvian standards. Then we sell the product in the US and return 100% of the proceeds (less shipping and show booth fees) to the artisans in forms of grants. Usually their requests allow them to educate their children, improve their shanty homes and provide basic healthcare – all things we take for granted here in the US. I first met some of these lovely ladies in 2006. Their humble sweet spirits, strong faith and desire to provide for their families were admirable. Please help us make break the cycle of poverty.
I first heard of the Mission Threads of Hope Peru through a friend travelling to Peru on a Mission to help the women involved in this project. My first arpilera (small wall hanging) was a Nativity Scene and I was "hooked". The detail in these one of a kind pieces is awe inspiring. There is a level of artistry and detail in these stitcheries that qualifies as "a lost art". I have helped promote the Mission by selling these stitcheries in 6 states and have amassed my
own collection. I now have several collectors inquiring what "stories" I have on hand. If all these were was fabulous folk art that would be enough! Fortunately, the changed lives as a result of this Mission makes this a gift that keeps on giving. YAY! Threads of Hope!
Threads of Hope is an amazing economic development project that empowers women in Peru. All the proceeds of the sale of the textiles is returned to the artisans in Peru, to help with education, housing, medical costs and small business development.
Our church has had the pleasure of working with Threads of Hope for years. It is an amazing organization that partners with the most beautiful women of Peru that create the most beautiful hand made items!! We love supporting artisans that provide such quality work.
Since 1999, Threads of Hope has been empowering economically disadvantaged artisans and their families in Peru. Our job is simple, we import textile art work and sell it on behalf of the artisans. Any money that is left over from the sale is put in a fund from which the artisans submit grant requests. The sale of the art work has enabled families to, for example, build homes, send family members to school, develop new business, and pay for life-saving surgery.
It is quite a privilege to walk alongside these incredible families and see how much a life can change when someone is given an opportunity to market their goods. We cannot do the work we do without the guidance of our heavenly Father and those that He calls to be our senders. I am most grateful for the opportunity to be a very small part in God's plan to make a better world.
I've supported this non-profit for over ten years. The successes they have realized supporting women and families is real, measurable, visible, and outstanding. The textiles they sell, to benefit the women in the project, are exquisite and charming beauties of the highest quality, and anyone would be proud to own them. I've never seen an organization do so much with such low overhead...many kudos to the volunteers all over the world who make all this goodness possible.