Indigenous Venezuelan immigrants and refugees create a brand of ecological absorbent pads
The Fraternity – International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF) is supporting the development of a brand of ecologic absorbent pads, called “Tida Warao”, which means “Warao Woman”, an enterprise made up of five indigenous women: Nuris Suarez, Laiza Freites, Melania Mata, Victoria Breceno, Enniris Breceno and Erimar Yanez, who at this time live in the shelters for immigrants and refugees in Boa Vista, Roraima.
“A product made by women, for women, where the first sale was at an event dedicated to the International Day of the Woman,” emphasizes Sarah Lins, a humanitarian worker who is active in projects for entrepreneurship incentives, developed by the Indigenous Cultural and Training Center (ICTC) under the coordination of the Humanitarian Fraternity (FIHF) in partnership with Operation Welcome and other organizations.
“It’s very satisfying to see the first results of the work of sewing these absorbent pads being collected, and it shows these entrepreneurial women that it’s possible to find ways to rebuild their lives, that they have the necessary strength to do it,” the humanitarian worker points out.
The first production, 50 absorbent pads, was made to order for the Salvation Army to offer to participants in the event held on March 8, a time when many immigrant and refugee women in vulnerable situations gathered together to talk about sisterhood, which is to say, a companionship among women, the importance of the Day of the Woman, menstrual dignity, sustainability and the myths and truths about the use of the menstrual flow collectors and ecologic absorbent pads, made out of fabric.
Nuris Suarez, seamstress and member of the Tida Warao, explains that she and the other members of the group began to participate in courses offered by the ICTC, and one of the first courses they took was basic sewing.
“We also did the course on Portuguese. That helped us to specialize and improve our ability in sewing. We have done various things here, such as bags, and now we are specially focused on the production of ecologic absorbent pads, which is going really well. And we feel good, with all the support we received, and working as a team. I hope to God that we are able to continue sewing the absorbent pads and whatever else comes up,” hopes Nuris.
Entrepreneurship and self-sustainability
The work done by the ICTC with Venezuelan indigenous immigrant and refugee women has the goal of empowering them in the building of alternatives for generating income, so they can become professionals and rebuild their lives through sewing and other crafts.
Besides the integration with other Venezuelan women who live outside of the shelters, an expansion of knowledge related to the feminine world, and an increase in their self-confidence through the sale of the products made by themselves, the entrepreneurial projects also encourage the sharing of their experiences and knowledge.
Jaqueline Silva, director of the Salvation Army, says that “as an institution, we who are involved in this issue, empowering these women through protection and psychosocial work, find it very rewarding to see them producing; for us it is very gratifying to be able to contribute in some way.”
Another point emphasized by Sarah Gonçalves, psychologist of the Salvation Army, is the importance of the women participating in the event to see other immigrant or refugee women on the sewing front line, demonstrating that they too can do this, and in this way, they also go on to feel they are being represented.
“In the end, a beneficiary of the house, who does the course in Portuguese and psychological care with us, came to me asking for more information. She is also a seamstress and wants to begin to make the absorbent pads, because in the community where she lives there are young girls and women who also need these absorbent pads, which is to say, the seed was sown and is already producing results. This is very important, because when they have the role of speaking, as occurred during the event, this shows they can unite and become stronger,” concludes Sarah
Find out more about the entrepreneurship projects developed at the Indigenous Culturaland Training Center (ICTC), coordinated by the Humanitarian Fraternity (FIHF).
Find out also about the Young Girl Project (Eboma Tida, in Warao), which trained indigenous refugees of 10 to 19 years of age to produce sustainable absorbent pads.
