Prior to the formation of Synergo Arts, a pilot project was
conducted by Synergo LLC with Oxlajuj B'atz' in Guatemala,
May 2005 through Februay 2007. Working on a pro bono
basis with Glenn Smith, Karen Piegorsch designed the
bench and training programs. The core team from OB that
facilitated the pilot project consisted of Herlinda Tzep,
Ramona Kirschenman, and Juana Ramos.
conducted by Synergo LLC with Oxlajuj B'atz' in Guatemala,
May 2005 through Februay 2007. Working on a pro bono
basis with Glenn Smith, Karen Piegorsch designed the
bench and training programs. The core team from OB that
facilitated the pilot project consisted of Herlinda Tzep,
Ramona Kirschenman, and Juana Ramos.
| Synergo Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Copyright © 2009 Synergo Arts. All rights reserved. |
- “What used to take me three days to weave now takes two.”
- “I used to be able to weave for 30 minutes, then had to quit for the pain;
now I can weave for three hours with no pain.” - The cloth “comes off the loom with straighter edges and more evenly
packed weft,” and “it's cleaner because it’s not so close to the ground
while it’s being woven." - And from their daughters: “I want a bench like my mother has now, so my
body won't get the years of abuse and pain that hers has.”
The ergonomic bench enables women artisans to protect their health while producing more textiles of better quality.
As a result, they increase their ability to provide for their families, and also preserve their weaving culture.
As a result, they increase their ability to provide for their families, and also preserve their weaving culture.
| Watch the interview with Global X of Social Edge |
| Read more in: Fiberarts magazine, Nov/Dec 2008 |
Synergo Arts gratefully
acknowledges that permission
to share this article in PDF
format has been granted
through the generosity of
Interweave Press, the publisher
of Fiberarts magazine.
acknowledges that permission
to share this article in PDF
format has been granted
through the generosity of
Interweave Press, the publisher
of Fiberarts magazine.
The traditional method of
weaving is very hard on the
weaver’s body. Pain,
numbness, and fatigue
limit weaving tolerance,
often to less than half an
hour, and are readily
evident in how slowly and
stiffly a weaver moves
when she gets up from the
ground.
weaving is very hard on the
weaver’s body. Pain,
numbness, and fatigue
limit weaving tolerance,
often to less than half an
hour, and are readily
evident in how slowly and
stiffly a weaver moves
when she gets up from the
ground.
| Bench Project |
Here's what Mayan women are saying:
Project history
This grassroots project has already helped 150 women in
Guatemala. Its success comes from its origins in the
indigenous community, and a participatory social process.
Guatemala. Its success comes from its origins in the
indigenous community, and a participatory social process.
"Ergonomics has brought me great personal benefits, both physical
and mental. I’ve had the opportunity to train many women weavers
in Guatemala to use the ergonomic bench correctly. I’m very
interested in being able to continue helping other women in the
world reduce the fatigue and pain that their bodies endure while
weaving. Then they will be better able to appreciate their own
efforts, talent, and skills as they carry on their craft."
and mental. I’ve had the opportunity to train many women weavers
in Guatemala to use the ergonomic bench correctly. I’m very
interested in being able to continue helping other women in the
world reduce the fatigue and pain that their bodies endure while
weaving. Then they will be better able to appreciate their own
efforts, talent, and skills as they carry on their craft."
Unlike the traditional
kneeling posture, the
ergonomic bench works in
harmony with the body. It
rocks with her rhythmic
movement as she uses the
backstrap loom. The
padded seat can be
adjusted to fit the individual
weaver. An adjustable,
interlocking footrest
provides leverage and
stability.
kneeling posture, the
ergonomic bench works in
harmony with the body. It
rocks with her rhythmic
movement as she uses the
backstrap loom. The
padded seat can be
adjusted to fit the individual
weaver. An adjustable,
interlocking footrest
provides leverage and
stability.
“Para mi la ergonomía me ha servido mucho, físico y mentalmente.
Tuve la oportunidad de capacitar a muchas mujeres tejedoras de
Guatemala para darles el uso correcto del banquillo ergonómico.
Tengo mucho interés en poder ayudar a más mujeres en el mundo
para reducir el cansancio y el dolor de su cuerpo al tejer, y para
que ellas puedan valorar el trabajo y esfuerzo que realizan cuando
hacen su tejido.”
Tuve la oportunidad de capacitar a muchas mujeres tejedoras de
Guatemala para darles el uso correcto del banquillo ergonómico.
Tengo mucho interés en poder ayudar a más mujeres en el mundo
para reducir el cansancio y el dolor de su cuerpo al tejer, y para
que ellas puedan valorar el trabajo y esfuerzo que realizan cuando
hacen su tejido.”
This project has been recognized with a 2006 Tech Award from the Tech
Museum of Innovation's Award Program for Technology Benefiting Humanity, and
the 2007 User-Centered Design Award from the Human Factors and
Ergonomics Society's Product Design Technical Group
Museum of Innovation's Award Program for Technology Benefiting Humanity, and
the 2007 User-Centered Design Award from the Human Factors and
Ergonomics Society's Product Design Technical Group
Award recognition
$300 will help us complete the
preparations of the start-up kit that
enables local carpenters to make
the bench for women in their
community.
$25 will help educate one weaver
to use the bench safely and with
maximum benefit.
$200 will help provide a weaver
with a train-the-trainer program
and materials to enable her to
become a trainer for other weavers.
$1,200 will help provide a start-up
kit & tech support for a local
carpenter to make benches for the
women in his community.
preparations of the start-up kit that
enables local carpenters to make
the bench for women in their
community.
$25 will help educate one weaver
to use the bench safely and with
maximum benefit.
$200 will help provide a weaver
with a train-the-trainer program
and materials to enable her to
become a trainer for other weavers.
$1,200 will help provide a start-up
kit & tech support for a local
carpenter to make benches for the
women in his community.
Juana Ramos, an experienced community educator and weaver from San Jorge
La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala, continued to collaborate with Synergo Arts
following the pilot project, and has played a major role in assuring the cultural
appropriateness of our training materials. We are grateful for her dedication to
helping women artisans learn to use the bench.
La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala, continued to collaborate with Synergo Arts
following the pilot project, and has played a major role in assuring the cultural
appropriateness of our training materials. We are grateful for her dedication to
helping women artisans learn to use the bench.
| Your donations at work |
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Local people learn to make and use the bench
Our training program prepares women to educate other weavers in their
communities. The bench supports weaving as a cottage industry and helps
women continue to work from home. It encourages young people to weave and
helps indigenous people preserve their traditions through innovation and
empowerment.
communities. The bench supports weaving as a cottage industry and helps
women continue to work from home. It encourages young people to weave and
helps indigenous people preserve their traditions through innovation and
empowerment.
A start-up kit (with templates, diagrams, sample, DVD) and tech support from
Synergo Arts increase carpenter's skills while ensuring that the ergonomic
features of the bench are preserved. By making benches, carpenters can
increase their livelihood and gain satisfaction from helping their own people.
Synergo Arts increase carpenter's skills while ensuring that the ergonomic
features of the bench are preserved. By making benches, carpenters can
increase their livelihood and gain satisfaction from helping their own people.
| Contact us to get involved! |