A local non-profit含羞草研究社檚 new project is helping Okanagan women in a new way.

HOPE Outreach launched its new initiative, Jewels of Hope, on Sept. 18. The program will give marginalized and exploited women, often living in the streets, have the opportunity to earn a little bit of money while learning some skills in crafting and retail that they can use in their resumes and help them find work.

Participants learn how to make bracelets, which are then sold through the project含羞草研究社檚 website or through pop-up markets. This way, they get to learn how to handle online and physical sales.

Lorraine Richmond is HOPE Outreach含羞草研究社檚 project lead and she said the goal of the initiative is to bring resources to women who otherwise won含羞草研究社檛 get access to them.

含羞草研究社淲e teach them something tangible, a horizontal skill. For now, we含羞草研究社檝e started with bracelets because it含羞草研究社檚 simple,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淏asically, we含羞草研究社檙e teaching them skills for potential sustainable employment.含羞草研究社�

Besides making learning accessible, Richmond said the goal of the project is to give dignity back to vulnerable women and for them to realize that they, and the work they do, matter.

含羞草研究社淲omen are given a five-dollar honorarium含羞草研究社� and we give them a gift card to a store so they can buy food and other necessities,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 about human dignity and because finances are often an issue, this way they can supply their own bare and basic needs. It含羞草研究社檚 a safe place and will bring them belonging and help them build a community.含羞草研究社�

Richmond said they含羞草研究社檙e also partnering with other community organizations for retail education.

含羞草研究社淪HARE Society, for example, has a retail training program. So for the women that make these bracelets, it含羞草研究社檚 something they can put on their resume,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淪HARE can teach them WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) or Foodsafe. This way they can have put together their own table at the farmers含羞草研究社� market or grow their own business. Some places, once the women gain the skills and confidence, want to hire them.含羞草研究社�

She added that another important part of the program is the product itself: the bracelet, which features yellow, white, black, and red beads, with a silver pendant in the shape of the word HOPE. The colours are reminiscent of the traditional Indigenous medicine wheel.

Now with the initiative live, Richmond said they含羞草研究社檙e looking for stores they can partner with and sell the bracelets, as well as volunteers who can help HOPE Outreach含羞草研究社檚 clients in making the bracelets.

More information on Jewels of Hope is available through .

READ MORE: Harvest a mixed bag for Okanagan fruit growers this year

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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