Cruz de Motupe
Recognising that Lima's areas of most need were the very outskirts of Lima, Sr Clare Conaglen settled in Cruz de Motupe, in northwest Lima. In 2006 she started to organise a group of about fifteen local women and provided them with materials to start knitting hats, socks and ponchos.
Over the next two years, they sent regular parcels of their work and Amy guided them on products and colours. When she suggested they make Christmas tree surrounds in the arpillera technique (involving collage and embroidery techniques to depict a typical Peruvian scene), they were very doubtful of their abilites but promised to try. Working from just a photo, they slowly realised that they were capable of making extraordinary pieces of work, and began to experiment with individual designs. Apparently they were quite tearful when they finished, and said they felt proud of themselves and that their families, who hadn't thought they could complete the work, were full of respect for them!
When Amy returned to Lima in 2008, she noticed a significant change in the women. They seemed much happier and more confident and had formed tight bonds as a group. They talked animatedly and spoke of renewed self-esteem.
Best of all, they are now teaching other women to knit, and travel in pairs to surrounding shanty towns where there is most need. They consider themselves fortunate and now see themselves as leaders who can help other women. They feel a responsibility to share their experiences and advice with other women, who are often young mothers with little other support.
Sr Clare has also started another small group in the local 'Comedor', or soup kitchen, where mothers are learning to use some basic knitting machines under the guidance of Simon, who himself is in desperate need of an income. Sr Clare has also helped around ten particularly needy families that live in shacks on the hills surrounding Motupe by arranging for them to learn to make wristbands. They are families that have suffered extreme hardship, but that do not have the skills to knit or find other paid work, so Clare wanted to find a means of income for them. You can read more about their stories here.
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