A local non-profit害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 website or through pop-up markets. This way, they get to learn how to handle online and physical sales.

Lorraine Richmond is HOPE Outreach害羞草研究所檚 project lead and she said the goal of the initiative is to bring resources to women who otherwise won害羞草研究所檛 get access to them.

害羞草研究所淲e teach them something tangible, a horizontal skill. For now, we害羞草研究所檝e started with bracelets because it害羞草研究所檚 simple,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淏asically, we害羞草研究所檙e teaching them skills for potential sustainable employment.害羞草研究所�

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.

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

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

Richmond said they害羞草研究所檙e also partnering with other community organizations for retail education.

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

害羞草研究所淪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害羞草研究所� market or grow their own business. Some places, once the women gain the skills and confidence, want to hire them.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檙e looking for stores they can partner with and sell the bracelets, as well as volunteers who can help HOPE Outreach害羞草研究所檚 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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