Calling all Artisans

My niece Caroline is finishing up her Peace Corps Volunteer service in Lesotho working to help a woman run weaving cooperative build and sustain their business. She has asked me to spread the word about a  special project which needs funds to train workers and grow the business. So I am sharing the information with my readers and fellow artisans here. You can help by donating or by spreading the word to others who might have an interest. The goal is to remember and honor those who have helped us by paying it forward and here’s an opportunity to do just that.

This is a link to a website with some photos of their weaving ,

http://picasaweb.google.com/Maserutapestries

and here is Caroline’s letter with an address for the org. which is collecting the money for this project,

Hi Heather,
 
How are you? As I mentioned, I’m working on getting funds down here to my weavers to train five more women. I was wondering if you know of anyone who would be interested in contributing, other artisans?
 
We have found a weaving guild in SC who is raising most of the funds, but we still need more. The total cost of the project is $1100 and that will pay the women a training stipend, pay the trainer, buy supplies and transport. Women here in Lesotho have such a hard time supporting their families since there are simply no jobs to be found. When the women here go unemployed their children are left with little education or food to fill their bellies. By employing these five women we will not only be pulling them out of poverty, but also their families and parts of their communities.
 
The checks need to be made out to the Palmetto Fiber Arts Guild, with a note for the Maseru Weaving Coop Project.  They can be sent either to the Guild mailbox, PO Box 42119, Charleton, SC 29423, or  To the Guild Treasurer, Garnette Tuten, 25 Plainfield Dr.  Charleston, SC 29407.  We need to have this money collected and to the PeaceCorps Volunteer by JUly 15, so our deadline will be earlier. 
 
I know the economy is awful right now, but you can imagine it’s so much worse here. And any help you can give would be appreciated.
 
Thank you so much,
 
Caroline