Marianne Johnpillai and Sue Harrison are especially busy these days. They’re in the midst of organising a lanMdmark inauguration of their project’s labours of love here in Colombo, the result of years of hard work.
Founded in 2003, Homes of Peace and Shelter (HOPeS) is a registered charity which started out building houses in Payagala on the south coast back in 2003.
Marianne, a HOPeS trustee, wanted to continue making a difference once the physical ravages of the tsunami had been addressed. And so, under HOPeS’s auspices and together with Sue, the Hearts and Hands project has flourished for the past four years, producing an amazing 8,000 unique hand-crafted cards in its first year alone.
Using Sue’s considerable scrap-booking skills, they train the women of Payagala to turn their talents to handicrafts, making bags, cards, gift boxes and many other decorative items, mostly for export. Now, for the first time, Hearts and Hands products will be available locally.
The ball was set rolling following a meeting with the owner of Kasimir, a new home-wares shop, with the help of the Association of British Residents, of which Sue is a member. Hearts and Hands is creating its own niche within Kasimir, a platform for its special products (20% of the sales will go to the owner in lieu of rent).
Sadly, reflecting global economic downturn, the ladies admit that “this year has been a bit of a struggle”. Go along and support a good cause. Hearts and Hands opens its doors to the public on Wednesday, September 8 at 6 p.m. at Kasimir, 56 Maya Avenue, Havelock Town, Colombo 5.
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