APPROACH
OAS commits to certifying 200 women from the Novo Lino community over the next two years, in developing craft techniques using banana tree fibers, a raw material usually disposed off during banana harvesting. Besides recycling, spreading the technique will open new fronts of opportunity for these women, who will also receive training in entrepreneurship and cooperative managing skills, in order to continue to produce handmade goods in a sustainable way, and thus contributing to the improvement of living conditions for the local families.
OAS plans to implement and monitor all stages of the project, from formal partnership establishment with the municipality of Novo Lino/AL, hire expert instructor(s), supplying materials for the workshops, transportation, and accommodation for the instructor(s), manage logistics of the project to strengthen and consolidate the group as a self-sustaining cooperative that benefits those 200 families involved and the community in general as well. The project will be developed in partnership with the Labor, Housing, and Welfare Office of the Municipality of Novo Lino, which will assist in selecting and enrolling participants, as well as in monitoring and assisting them with psychologists and social workers. The component of entrepreneurship and cooperative managing skills training, which will be conducted by expert institution, hired by OAS, will also be of a major importance as student will learn the connection between teamwork with everyone's success. As the project develops, OAS will make weekly visits for monitoring and reporting, and will also produce photographic and audio-visual records. After two years of activities, OAS will compile a final report and a video, to display the benefits of the commitment and the advancements generated to the whole community. At the end of the project, OAS will help organize a 'Novo Lino Fair and Feast of Banana Fiber Craft - Exhibition and marketing of products,' in order to promote handmade goods produced by the women who participate in this project.
ACTION PLAN
02/03/2014: signature of the Term of Commitment between OAS and Novo Lino city hall
Year 1
- Stage 1 (Through 2/21/2014) - Announcement / Selection and registration of participants - Groups 1
- Stage 2 (3/10 - 06/20/2014) - Training of the 1st group - urban area (25 students - morning) and 1st group - rural area (25 students - afternoon)
- Stage 3 (6/20/2014) - Graduation Groups 1 (rural and urban)
- Stage 4 (6/24 - 7/19/2014) - Announcement / Selection and registration of participants - Groups 2
- Stage 5 (8/4 - 11/21/2014) - Training of the 2nd group - urban area (25 students - morning) and 2nd group - rural area (25 students - afternoon)
- Stage 6 (11/21/2014) - Graduation Groups 2 (rural and urban)
- Stage 7 (12/10 - 12/14/2014) - I Novo Lino Fair and Feast of Banana Fiber Craft - Exhibition and marketing of products
Year 2
- Stage 1 (Through 2/23/2015) - Announcement / Selection and registration of participants - Groups 3
- Stage 2 (3/9 - 6/19/2015) - Training of the 3rd group - urban area (25 students - morning) and 3rd group - rural area (25 students - afternoon)
- Stage 3 (6/19/2015) - Graduation Groups 3 (rural and urban)
- Stage 4 (6/22 - 7/17/2015) - Announcement / Selection and registration of participants - Groups 4
- Stage 5 (8/3 - 11/20/2015) - Training of the 4th group - urban area (25 students - morning) and 4th group - rural area (25 students - afternoon)
- Stage 6 (11/20/2015) - Graduation Groups 4 (rural and urban)
- Stage 7 (12/9 to 12/13/2015) - II Novo Lino Fair and Feast of Banana Fiber Craft - Exhibition and marketing of products
Conclusion of the Project (12/18/2015): Dinner and presentation of the project video for all cooperative members and partners.