In 2013, I began a program aimed at empowering women to provide for their families. It all started with a piece of paper pulled out of the trash and 3 women willing to learn.
I had no idea what I was doing. I was never good at being the center of attention. But on this day, I had 15 women staring me in the eye, wondering why this gringa was there. A few weeks later, production had begun with 3 women (of the 15) determined to turn their bracelets into a profit.
Its now 2016, and we have 25 women producing beautiful stories. I call them stories because each bracelet is one. Its their unique soul, heart and love. Each women has a struggle. Each cry tears of pain and suffering. But every single woman whom is a part of this program has the desire. To succeed. To become someone. To thrive.
Last week I had a meeting with one of the two groups of women. We meet on rickety benches in front of Sandras house. Little kids ran around in muddy feet, chickens were making a ruckus next door and the neighbor was diligently working on fixing her mud wall that collapsed into a gaping hole to her house. There we sat and began to talk about men. Seems like that's a common topic of conversation with us. The women always laugh when we talk about men. Its funny to them that I am 27 years old and not married with 6 kids. I tell them Im waiting for my prince to come sweep me off my feet. They tell me he doesnt exist.
I hear from the ladies that one of the women got back together with her abusive ex-husband. My heart sank. WHY, I asked. Why would she get back together with the man that took a machete to her? Why would she put her kids in that situation? After knowing that he was sleeping with another woman, why would she go back to him? They tell me that he is also controlling her life. None of them have seen her in weeks. Shes not allowed to answer her phone and she is not allowed to leave her house...without his permission. This is the same man who took his kids mattresses away just to punish her. They slept on the floor. The dirt floor.
"So she is back with him?" I asked "What benefit is she getting from being with him?!" I responded angrily.
That's when I learned why. "Catalina, she is back with him because what is she going to do without him? She doesnt work. Were not selling enough bracelets to maintain ourselves. Her kids need to eat and if she doesnt go back to him, they will starve."
I didn't know how to respond.
"This is the reality of women in Honduras" Onoria began to explain. "Even though you might get a black eye, or a broken wrist, you have to tolerate your situation. Being a women is hard in this country. We dont have the rights, the resources or the finances to separate us from an abusive husband. At least tolerating the situation, we get the necessities we need from our husbands."
You see, in Honduras, men work and women stay home to cook and clean. Even though children grow up, get married and move out of the house, they cant come back home or rely on mom and dad to help. With mom and dad struggling each day, there is no way their child, who is physically and mentally abused by her husband can come to ask for help. So what is the solution? Go back to him. Pretend that your fine. Tolerate it. And pray to God for help.
Soraya told me the story of her sister. She used to walk the streets with sunglasses on to cover up her black eye. She made excuses, saying she fell, or got hit by accident. Xiomara knew the real story. "Catalina, I wanted to help my sister. I love her. But I could barely scrape enough rice and beans each day to feed my kids." Then she says "...Thank the Lord my sisters husband is dead. He was shot and killed by gangs. That was the only way my sister would be free"
I sat and listened. The women talked and compared stories for about half an hour.
Without mentioning the bracelets, I brought up a scenario. What if these women had jobs? Secure jobs? What if they brought in enough money weekly to pay for the school expenses, food, medicine, clothes and other necessities for their families? Then could they be "free"?
Every single women there responded with a sigh of relief. YES. Even though it was a 'what if' situation, their faces lit up. Like what a dream that would be. With a solid weekly income they wouldn't have to deal with abusive husbands. They could take their kids and give them what every mother wants to provide.
Could you imagine not knowing where your next meal came from? Not knowing if your kids would be able to go to school next month because you dont have a backpack for them?
And thats why Im writing this blog. I heard their cries. I know their worries. I also know we can change that. When I started this program, my goal was to provide these 25 women with an income. Give them back what they never knew was theirs. Make them proud. Proud to be mommies and proud to provide.
I know that by selling their products, it gives them that much more hope to continue. To not give up. To be the woman the bible says she is "far more precious than jewels."
This is my plea. With a sadness, a deep, deep sadness in my heart. Will you please join us in this journey? We need you. Help us sell these bracelets that tell their stories. From a listening ear and a breaking heart, please. Each bracelet sold, one woman receives $5. This $5 can feed her family, buy her kids notebooks and pencils for school or pay for the medicine her newborn baby needs. It is crucial.
We haven't sold bracelets in quite some time. We need a way to expand our market and get new customers to purchase our products. I need YOU to help me do so. While I am on the field working with the women, I need YOU to help market.
Do you have ideas you can share? Do you have access to groups, organizations, corporations, that can help these women?
Last year each women sold on average 150 bracelets. Thats 750 dollars. EACH. Times that by 25 and that gives you over 18,000 dollars sold in bracelets. One hundred percent went back to the women. One hundred percent went back to their families and their communities. BIG THINGS HAPPENED. Lets make it happen again this year.
**A huge shout out to the Vennam's who run our Etsy site statesite
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FindingHopeHonduras
**Thank you to Maureen Regier who has sold thousands of bracelets in Canada by attending conferences, womens events and other activities. Maureen, you are a true advocate for Finding Hope and an awesome representative! This would not happen without you!
