PROJET MANOS PERUANAS
Projet MANOS PERUANAS
Dernière mise à jour 01.11.24
Weaving the Future
Reviving the Craft of Women Weavers: A Project of Hope in the Face of El Niño's Challenges
Reviving the Craft of Women Weavers: A Project of Hope in the Face of El Niño's Challenges
Our project is to support the Peruvian association of women weavers of straw hats. These women have been severely affected by the formidable natural phenomenon known as "El Niño," which strikes the Peruvian coast. They have lost everything.
In the first phase of our project, we aim to reactivate two essential machines to revive the production of these beautiful hats. Our objective is to support disadvantaged families who depend on this ancestral art. We have requested a quote for the required machines.
The second phase will involve implementing a training program for individuals with limited resources, enabling them to learn a trade. For this project, we rely on the association to accommodate these individuals for a minimum of six months, providing them with practical training tailored to their level. Most of them are unable to write. Our main trainer will be Master Mrs. Iris Chero.
In the third phase of the program, the trainees will participate in a sales techniques training, led by Maricela Lancoud, Vice President of the Foundation, with the support of Danièla Dufour, Director of the Foundation. This course complements their training as straw hat weavers, equipping them with the necessary skills to enhance their craftsmanship, boost their self-confidence, and develop effective sales strategies. The goal is to empower them to defend their artisanal work against the influx of mass-produced goods from Asia. Maricela Lancoud will conduct the entire training, focusing on practical methods tailored to the local market. Upon completion of this program, the trainees will be awarded a certificate of competence, validating their mastery of straw hat weaving techniques as well as essential sales strategies for marketing their work successfully.
The participants will also have the opportunity to take a practical exam remotely and receive a training certificate issued by our association, sponsored by the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation. The main trainers for this stage will be Master craftswoman Mrs. Iris Chero and Maricela Lancoud.
Currently, we are working on assessing the costs of this project, and we will submit a support request to the local government to secure free premises for the duration of the training.
This initiative aims to restore hope to these women weavers, preserve their traditional craftsmanship, and provide them with new opportunities. We believe in their potential and strongly believe that this project will contribute to enhancing their economic and social empowerment.
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Notre voyage humanitaire
Human connections and new perspectives
The progress of the Manos Peruanas project
During their recent trip to Peru, Maricela Lancoud, Vice-President of the Foundation, and Danièla Dufour, Director, were deeply moved by the reality they discovered on the ground. They were warmly welcomed by the women weavers and the local community, forging authentic and enriching human connections with the residents of the region. However, they also witnessed the harshness of daily life: the pervasive poverty and the visible devastation still caused by the climatic phenomenon El Niño. More than ever, they recognized the urgent need to improve access to education in order to offer new opportunities to the women of this region.
Regarding the working conditions of the apprentices, the Foundation's ambassadors highlighted the positive progress while identifying areas for improvement. In a spirit of collaboration and goodwill, measures are being considered to enhance the working comfort of the apprentices, including:
- The provision of ergonomic chairs and tables to ensure proper posture during their training.
- The installation of systems for accessing drinking water, essential for their hydration, especially during the summer months when temperatures can reach 45 °C.
- The installation of a ceiling in the workshop to reduce the impact of intense heat and make the workspace more pleasant and bearable.
The Manos Peruanas project is progressing with enthusiasm and determination. The first training session, consisting of 20 motivated apprentices, has already begun and will continue until November 2024. Thanks to the trust established with the participants, the momentum continues with a second session planned for February or March 2025, again welcoming 20 apprentices. A third and final session, with between 10 and 20 participants depending on demand, will complete this phase of training.
The Manos Peruanas project is shaping up as an opportunity for renewal for the local community and is progressing with enthusiasm and determination.
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Quand les mains façonnent l’avenir
Un projet qui devient une véritable success story
Le projet Manos Peruanas, porté avec passion par la Fondation Philippe & Élisabeth Dufour, avance à merveille et approche aujourd’hui de son objectif final
Ce programme, né pour redonner une perspective d’avenir aux artisanes tisserandes de la région de Piura, au Pérou, est en train de devenir une véritable success story, grâce au leadership inspirant de notre Vice-présidente, Maricela Lancoud, et à l’implication précieuse des partenaires et acteurs locaux qui, avec cœur, courage et détermination, portent et protègent ce projet jour après jour.
Ils en sont les piliers silencieux et indispensables, sans lesquels cette aventure humaine n’aurait jamais pu atteindre une telle envergure.
La formation artisanale dispensée au cours des derniers mois a permis à de nombreuses femmes d’acquérir un savoir-faire technique solide et de reconstruire leur dignité à travers un métier authentique. Les retours des participantes sont extrêmement positifs : elles témoignent d’une profonde transformation personnelle et professionnelle, d’un immense regain de confiance et d’une énergie nouvelle pour bâtir leur avenir.
Afin d’assurer la pérennisation du projet, la Fondation s’engage désormais à soutenir les artisanes dans la valorisation et la commercialisation de leurs créations, avec pour objectif qu’elles atteignent une autonomie complète et un revenu stable.
Notre Vice-présidente mène actuellement des pourparlers avec plusieurs canaux de distribution, tant locaux qu’internationaux. Ces perspectives sont très encourageantes et ouvrent la voie à une mise en marché ambitieuse et structurée.
Parallèlement, une mise à niveau de l’outil de production est en cours : amélioration des machines, optimisation des espaces de travail, et organisation de l’approvisionnement en matières premières, afin de garantir une production durable et de haute qualité.
Ce projet, qui se déroule de manière exemplaire, est une source de grande fierté pour le Conseil de la Fondation. Il illustre parfaitement la force de la solidarité, la puissance de la transmission du savoir et la beauté de la résilience humaine.
Manos Peruanas, ce sont des mains qui tressent la paille, des vies qui se reconstruisent et un avenir qui se façonne, brin après brin.
Pour la vie. Pour l’humain. Pour demain.
Fondation Philippe & Élisabeth Dufour
