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A Severine

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1 reviews

Review for International Folk Art Alliance, Santa Fe, NM, USA

Rating: 5 stars  

For 5 years I have worked with indigenous artist cooperatives from Saraguro Ecuador. The women make and sell wonderful seed bead necklaces. It has been a joy to see the growth in sales each year and to hear stories about how the money earned has helped families and villages. The Santa Fe Folk Art Market is the first place these artists have had an opportunity to sell on a large scale. The artists who attended learned how to sell, export, price goods and much more from the market staff.

This year for the first time we will see the Mega Cooperative from Saraguro. It is an organization of 5 coops and the profits will be split between all of them. They hope to be able to come to the market every year. There is nothing to compare with the Santa Fe Folk Art Market anywhere.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

Since 2005, artists have participated inthe Santa Fe Folk Art Market was 2005. Their work has risen significantly in quality while the traditional designs are maintained. Several cooperatives have been able to acquire buildings in which the women can meet, work on their beadwork, and use as a place for their community. One cooperative raised money for a women's shelter. This money is used to house women and their children in emergencies, as well as to provide legal services.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

I can't think of any thing I would change!

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

Life-changing

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Okay

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?

I would like to be excused from the pre-market training. We were promised a ten minute training last year, it ran over 30 minutes, and I didn't learn anything that I hadn't already read in the market mailings. 2011 will be my 5th year. More importantly, I read everything I receive from market staff. Most of the volunteers that I recruit for our booth have participated many times and I can tell them about any changes. They love to volunteer with us, but don't want to keep coming to trainings.

Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)

Becoming well acquainted with individuals from another culture is a life changing experience. I also value the opportunities I have had to speak with artists from many different countries.

How did this volunteer experience make you feel?

I have never done anything like this and it made me feel good about myself. And, I'll have to say, it is exhausting!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2010

Role:  Volunteer & A friend of mine and I have written the applications to the market, raised money for expenses, advised artists about visas, and provided display shelving.
 
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