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If you've come to this page, it means you've read Ellen Byron's article, followed our journey, examined images of the lace and photos of ‘their world' and gotten to know more about the Lace Ladies than you knew before you stepped into our world. Have you envisioned the beach in the Tsunami stricken area? The village ladies sitting in their homes with the lace pillows on their laps? Read the history of lace and now know it's important to keep the art alive? Yes? Then you are most welcome into our 'home'. Since my trip in mid June, we've all been quite busy – Aruna has established a Trust called “Rural Association of Craft Ennobling” (you will be able to link to it shortly); Mohan has purchased a plot of land for the construction of a new Central Unit. It will unite all the Lace Ladies, offer new programs for training and begin a new chapter in the organization of the lace products. I'm working on the other end – designing and marketing the products and increasing exposure of the project to protect the future of the Lace Ladies. A business plan has been prepared and is available upon request to the appropriate entities wishing to contribute or participate in our project to build the new lace unit building, buy equipment and other necessities. Without a long, drawn out ‘plea' for contributions, I will only open the door and those who wish to pass through may do so. Are you a humanitarian? A true lover of fine art wishing to preserve something of historical value? It's a “living art”, not a dusty, old relic – these are real, breathing people, feeding their families while working hard at the skills available to them, however that happened. It is not of great interest to these hungry “workers” that the Belgian nuns came in the 1800's bringing the skills with them. Nor that they are unique in the world, highly skilled and preserving an art form. What is important is the work. Day in and day out, just like you, me and everyone else in the world, they must bring in income to buy necessities. Obviously, I'm not trying to glamorize the situation… Charity is fine, and we certainly need it, but it doesn't build a future for these communities. Charity is for the Trust, so we can get the building built, the equipment needed. Ongoing work is what will feed the future and secure it for a long, long time. The new Central Unit will accomplish many goals. We will be able to house the workers in a clean, airy, well-lighted environment, offer a mid day meal and transportation from the local villages to this one location. We will be able to reward the ladies that “hung in there” despite the loss of the original Unit #1 due to the Tsunami, and who now work in cramped, uncomfortable conditions in a small room of a village home. We will be able to employ other ladies unable to learn the tedious lace making skills by instead teaching them embroidery, beading, crochet and sewing skills, enabling them to produce products also marketable with the lace. Sales from the lace will pay the ladies and keep the business in motion. This is what will keep the art alive and help build a strong foundation expanding well into the future. How can you help? One way is to buy some of our products . This can be done by visiting our website at www.dangelohome.com . Sale of the products, particularly in the Venetian lace, will help increase the work for the Convents. More work will be available to the girls now working in the Convents, and perhaps they will be interested in continuing lace making as their career once they graduate from school if they know it offers a safe, secure future. The Lace Ladies team will expand with more products being sold. This will bring in more Ladies to help and the community of Ladies can grow. Another is through donations to the Trust , the “Rural Association of Craft Ennobling”. It will secure the funds needed for the construction, land purchase, equipment purchases and support the management staff, primarily Aruna Seth and P. Mohan, the two most dedicated people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. You can plan to contribute and we will give you the information for charity donations approved by the government. This can be done by emailing me at Victoria@dangelohome.com . I'll fill you in on the details, including how to link directly to the India Trust, and, thanks, in advance… Be a Corporate Sponsor ! Your company can be helpful as a donation sponsor, product presentation sponsor as a fund raising event or art promotional event. How about purchasing products as Corporate Gifts for your clients? We can customize them in many ways. Include the story and give your clients something beautiful, humanitarian and worthwhile – save the fruit basket for another time. You can buy products. You can donate funds. You can do this as an individual or a company. You can pass information on to good sources or send us ideas or open up a new direction we haven't thought of. Here's some things I'd like to see happen in the near future:
CONTACT INFORMATION: |
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To contact us, please simply email: Info@dangelohome.com . I will personally reply to you and discuss any questions you may have. I can update you on the status of the Trust, products that can be purchased or speak to you about your ideas or other contributions. I can also be reached, U.S. toll free. at: Thank you. |
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