Quilting for a new quality of life
Quilting has enabled the women of the tiny pueblo of Rancho Redondo (high in
the mountains of Costa Rica and many of whom are living in abusive situations
with alcoholic husbands in houses with no electricity, dirt floors and only
the very basic necessities of life) to become enlightened business women with
their own board of directors and broad international recognition of their
skills.
Thanks to an American citizen living in Costa
Rica who had expressed interest in
teaching pueblo women to quilt, Carolyn Underwood, around 50 women gathered
in May 2004 for a first lesson. Meeting weekly, sometimes even 2-3 times a
week for 17 months, they made rapid progress. They had to overcome great challenges,
including the suspicion and doubts of their husbands and families, in order
to attend classes. Some arose at 3 AM. to prepare meals for the day before
leaving.
In November 2004, only five months after starting, they were invited to be
the first quilters exhibit at the ‘International Week of Coffee’ in the
capital. They were an immediate hit. From then on success came rapidly, and
this year (2008) the entire group will be travelling to Houston’s
International Quilt Market (USA), the largest of its kind in the world.
What is important, however, is the profound empowerment of these women who
for the first time stand up individually and as a group to oppose injustice
and abuse in all its forms in their community, something which is practically
unheard of by former uneducated women in Costa
Rica. They contribute time, money, efforts
and talent to community projects. They have learned to work together as a
group, listening to and respecting each other. The enhancement of these
women’s lives has impacted the entire community, including economically.
Their quilts sell all around the world. Last but not least they have begun
donating 2 per cent of their annual income to non-profit organizations in
their immediate area.
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