Thinking Sustainability: REWOCAM Arts and Crafts Shop!

The person that first said \"two heads are better than one\" did a great job in analyzing the situation of the change that minds put together can bring. In my case, five heads have been better than one as far as the Impact Leader Program is Concerned. I have had two group calls with my team, and two one-on-one calls with two of my team members and the results have been outstanding. The joy I feel inside, by thinking at how far my project has come, is immeasurable.

On our first call, I told my team about the idea of coming up with some sustainable solutions for my organization, Rescue Women Cameroon (REWOCAM) and for its entire projects. And what I told them was that REWOCAM is thinking on starting an Arts and Craft Shop whose benefits will help in creating more girls lead clubs in the future and also put more girls in School. In some situations, the girls will be encourage to make crafts which we will buy and sell and in turn support more girls. We will also teach the girls how to make beads which they can make in their free time to sell to members of their communities or sell to us and we sell to others. We will also gather/buy crafts from villagers who have abandoned their craft skills because they have no where to sell.

Now, the REWOCAM Arts and Craft Shop will be a three-dimensional empowerment program. We empower community members by buying their craft, we empower girls by teaching them how to make craft and also buying some crafts that they know how to make, and we empower girls through the Girls' Lead Clubs and by offering them scholarships with the funds we will raise from the Arts and Craft business.

When my team heard about my business model, they were so excited about it and right now, we are working to build the idea up. The team now has officially said I have two Important projects:

1. Creating the Girls Lead Clubs

2. REWOCAM Arts and Craft shop

These two important aspect of empowerment will run alongside as the Impact Leader program moves on. The team has furnished me with resources to help with capacity building on both projects. It is going on well.

So far, I started with bead making, which I sell through social media to my friends. This started two weeks ago. I began by going to a bead shop in my town to buy different kinds of beads and accessories. I then visit youtube and learn the designs that I produce. Its been hardwork and fun, all the way! It consumes too much of my internet data and time but I am sure it is going to be for just a while because after mastering some designs, I wouldn't need to watch the videos again to make them. My entire household (my son inclusive) is involved in the bead making. They are all enjoying it.

The buying rate has been slow but encouraging. I have sold six necklaces so far and had five new commands. Nothing is never easy for a start, but I am getting there. I want to thank my team members for helping shape my idea. They are still working on ways to make it bigger and better in the days, weeks, months and YEARS ahead. Sustainability is the key and I just want to be another change agent to grab that key!

The idea that was born as a result of the Impact Leader Program will sure transcend through generations and I would be proud to say that in 2013, I found Rescue Women Cameroon organization during the VOF training program. And in 2016, I am finding and developing the REWOCAM Arts and Craft Shop as a result of the Impact Leader Program. Isn't it amazing at how World Pulse seeds change? Of course it is!

[For some reasons, my pictures just can't be uploaded, it keeps failing. I will try uploading again]