| Bench Project |
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.
| This project helps local people make and use the bench |
Through collaborations, Synergo Arts seeks to help local communities
build their own infrastructure for fabrication, distribution, promotion,
training and micro-finance, so that they are not dependent on outside
support.
build their own infrastructure for fabrication, distribution, promotion,
training and micro-finance, so that they are not dependent on outside
support.
| Resources in Guatemala |
| Elena and her mother Doña Maria share a bench in Santa Catarina Palopó, Guatemala. |
For the weavers we developed a train-the-trainer program that prepares
women to educate other weavers in their communities, to help them get
the most benefit from the bench and to use it safely. We also offer
knowledge and skill building for these artisans to apply ergonomics to
their lives beyond the weaving bench.
women to educate other weavers in their communities, to help them get
the most benefit from the bench and to use it safely. We also offer
knowledge and skill building for these artisans to apply ergonomics to
their lives beyond the weaving bench.
Synergo Arts created a start-up kit and technical support program that
enhance carpenters' skills and help ensure that the ergonomic features
of the bench are preserved. By making benches, local carpenters can
increase their livelihood and gain satisfaction from helping their own
people.
enhance carpenters' skills and help ensure that the ergonomic features
of the bench are preserved. By making benches, local carpenters can
increase their livelihood and gain satisfaction from helping their own
people.
This project has its roots in the indigenous communities in Guatemala where, near the end of 2011, we hope the two
project sites will become fully independent as the providers of the bench in Guatemala.
project sites will become fully independent as the providers of the bench in Guatemala.
In addition, Synergo Arts is in the preliminary stages of responding to requests to plan collaborations in Peru and
Indonesia.
Indonesia.
Weaver Training Provider
Bench Makers
Carpinería San Pedro, Lake Atitlán, Mario Chavajay Navichoc
Phone in Guatemala (Spanish or Tzutujil):
5932.0000 - Berta Ángela Cotuc Navichoc
5932.0000 - Berta Ángela Cotuc Navichoc
Árbol de Talento, Cajolá, near Quetzaltenango
Phone in USA (English or Spanish):
201.572.7974 - Caryn Maxim
201.572.7974 - Caryn Maxim
Phone in Guatemala (Spanish or Kakchiquel): 4960.6879
Juana Ramos, based in San Jorge La Laguna
Phone in Guatemala (Spanish or Mam)
5897.7668 - Eduardo Jimenez
5897.7668 - Eduardo Jimenez
Email (English or Spanish):
ArboldeTalento@gmail.com - Caryn Maxim
ArboldeTalento@gmail.com - Caryn Maxim
| Watch the educational video (10-minutes): |
Email (English or Spanish):
barbara.atlin@gmail.com - Barbara Ancheta
barbara.atlin@gmail.com - Barbara Ancheta
Juana's services include: helping introduce the bench to communities,
doing demonstrations of the bench, responding to questions, and
conducting training --anything from a one-time session on how to use
the bench, to the full train-the-trainer program, depending on your
interests. Juana has been with the bench project from the beginning.
She received training through Synergo Arts and has collaborated
closely to co-create a culturally appropriate training program which she
now offers independently.
doing demonstrations of the bench, responding to questions, and
conducting training --anything from a one-time session on how to use
the bench, to the full train-the-trainer program, depending on your
interests. Juana has been with the bench project from the beginning.
She received training through Synergo Arts and has collaborated
closely to co-create a culturally appropriate training program which she
now offers independently.
Participating carpenters make and sell the benches independently
under their own brand. They set their own prices, and are responsible
for the quality of their work.
under their own brand. They set their own prices, and are responsible
for the quality of their work.
| English Version |
| Versión en español |
Participating carpenters now make and sell the benches independently
under their own brand. They set their own prices, and are responsible for
the quality of their work.
under their own brand. They set their own prices, and are responsible for
the quality of their work.
We created these videos to help carpenters learn about the ergonomic
features of the bench, so that the benches they make will function well.
Weavers can use the video too, as part of their process for learning how
to get the most benefit from the bench, and how to use it safely.
features of the bench, so that the benches they make will function well.
Weavers can use the video too, as part of their process for learning how
to get the most benefit from the bench, and how to use it safely.
| Watch the demo video (silent, 1-mintue): |
"I've been weaving since I
was thirteen; always with
a lot of pain, but it's how I
support my family.
Weaving with this bench
is totally different,
because I feel
comfortable, and each
weaving advances more
quickly. I am so happy
weaving now --sometimes
it even makes me want to
sing!"
Doña María
was thirteen; always with
a lot of pain, but it's how I
support my family.
Weaving with this bench
is totally different,
because I feel
comfortable, and each
weaving advances more
quickly. I am so happy
weaving now --sometimes
it even makes me want to
sing!"
Doña María
For more information:
* visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page
* read the publications posted on our Articles page
* contact us
* visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page
* read the publications posted on our Articles page
* contact us
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| Synergo Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Copyright © 2012 Synergo Arts. All rights reserved. |
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