Fair fashion workshop with a social goal to empower women in Ranchi, India

Details

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  Description

  We are a Belgian non-profit organization, that founded socially responsible textile workshops in both Peru and India, with purely social projects for teenage mothers in Peru too. We believe that this combination, is an effective and sustainable way to combat poverty in the long term and to improve the living conditions of underprivileged people.
  
  Through these sustainable handicraft workshops, our organisation creates fair employment for underprivileged women, with a focus on high quality raw materials and authentic crafts. All profits created are reinvested in our social projects.
  
  Paces Crafts is our handicrafts workshop in the heart of India's northern region, Jharkhand, the second poorest state in India. We aim to provide employment for tribal women living in the rural area around the city of Ranchi, especially in Namkum. By offering them decent work opportunities, close to their homes, these women will less probably emigrate to the big cities in search of a better destiny where they often end up in situations of exploitation and abuse. The workshop trains women in the crafts of handweaving, crocheting, sewing and embroidery, to make exclusive products for the international market. Products that tell the unique story of the artisan behind it and her journey of empowerment.
  
  Are you familiar with production, sewing, weaving, embroidery, design or good with numbers? Or you want to help a hand with communications?
  
  Let us know! We can use all the help possible to make this Fair Fashion business work, and to truly empower these women.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Teaching

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Our workshop is located just outside the city of Ranchi, in the North-East of India. A non-touristic but vibrant city. The workshop is located in the quiet rural Namkum, at half an hour drive. At the workshop, you will work together with our all Indian team. There will also be follow-up and coordination from Belgium, as you will work together with both the Indian and Belgian team.
  
  Flexibility on the work floor, beautiful Indian fabrics, and a warm group of people that will love to share their traditions, it will all be part of the experience! Most of the artisans are part of the tribal community and will be happy to share their traditions.
  
  Besides being a company, we try to offer our artisans so much more. We try to organise regular workshops on social topics, like female hygiene, health screenings, workshops on Human Rights, etc.

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  Help

  We are looking for volunteers with experience in design or that are passionate about handmade textiles. Someone who wants to help a hand in the development of our fashion and home wear items, or someone with experience in sewing, weaving or embroidery that is willing to share some of their knowledge with our artisans. We mostly work with recycled saris and the kantha technique is often used by our artisans.
  
  We are also looking for volunteers that want to help a hand in Communications (photography, editing, etc.) or that can improve the team's use of excel (with lots of patience). Do you have a problem solving mindset? This small company can use your help, to get production more efficient, to get a better overview of stock or to measure its impact!
  
  Because as an organization we want to be a fair work environment, where women with no training can come in and grow, as artisans, as women, as people, … But getting this business on track is no easy task, in a region where most young graduates want to leave, in search for better opportunities in the big cities. Because making a career is important to many. With your help, our team CAN realize this dream, to uplift these women, and make the company grow.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  We offer you
  - A young, dynamic, and challenging environment
  - The chance to contribute to sustainable international cooperation in India
  - Accommodation on site (a comfortable appartement in the city of Ranchi) and transportation to Namkum, the rural village nearby where the workshop is located.
  - Close follow-up
  - Insurance Civil liability and accidents during working hours.
  
  Practical
  - Volunteering
  - Full time, minimum 3 months
  - Wage: Local expense allowance of 350 rupees (approximately 4.5 EUR) per working day.

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  What else ...

  We offer you an overview of local customs and places to visit. Our team will also be happy to show you around. But Ranchi is not a very (international) touristic place. Which can be nice, if you want to discover the real Indian lifestyle.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  You'll be working 5 days a week, the team works 6 days a week, as is the custom in India.

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