We are seeking an additional $200 for this project as well as $500 to seed a permaculture course for these same women.

GUAYABILLAS WOMEN'S SEWING COURSE

Letter from Meredith West-foyle
September 12, 2000

Dear Ruth,

I apologize for not being in more constant touch with you. Things kept getting put off, etc., and it didn't seem that there was anything new to say. However, NOW THERE IS!

We have done it!!! As I write (which will doubtless be a few weeks before it goes out to you), the women are in their final week of the sewing course with Kati Yanouch, the same teacher Martha Mondragon recommended to me.

Seems like it was worth the wait, too, as Kati is an excellent teacher, and the women speak highly of her. (She spent the weekend here at my house, and I speak highly of her, too!) I went the first morning to see how they would organize the classroom part, and will go again tomorrow to monitor how things are going. And again on Friday for the clausura.

I cannot thank you enough for facilitating this. It really means a lot to the women, and opens the door for future activities. I promise you that at least some of these will be more directly related to rainforest conservation than this one, on the surface, seemed! (We are already planning to sew up some for-sale items for the Christmas season.)

Here's the breakdown for expenditures:

- 2 used sewing machines...........USD$300.00
(1 treadle, with cabinet, and 1 zippy electric zig-zag)

- Salary for teaching a 3-week sewing course......$300.00
(Teacher: Kati Yanouch, professional sewing teacher)

- Office supplies and photocopied materals..........$36.00

- Fabrics for the practicum................$116.00
(more expensive than foreseen

- Threads, notions and tools for practicum............$ 48.00

TOTAL USD: $ 800.00

And here is how I paid for it:

- Your RIC grant : ) .............................USD $500.00

- Corazon Verde grant.................................$100.00

- Manfred Bauer & Waltraud Klittich.....$ 70.00

- my pocket........................................................$130.00

TOTAL USD: $800.00