Name of Your Cause
Shop Girls
Shop girls is a program that empowers Ajo women and girls through carpentry tool mastery and project creation in a positive, instructive, noncritical environment that fosters success.
Shop Girls was modeled on the "Girls with Tools" program developed by the Zuni Avenue Peace Center in Tucson.
The One Very Best Thing About Your Cause
International Sonoran Desert Alliance(ISDA) sponsors the "Las Artes GED program." It is modeled after a program in Tucson, Las Artes, which has proven to be very successful for out-of-school youth in helping them to get their GED and gain important work skills.
For two years, International Sonoran Desert Alliance provided free, eight-week courses for women and girls in carpentry tools skill development.
Learning how to use tools such as jigsaws, power drills and sanders through instruction by a highly experienced local female carpenter, these women and girls created wooden tables, benches, lamps, tool boxes, decorative accessories, etc. while honing their safety, math, project organization, collaboration and leadership skills. In addition, as their tool mastery developed, they learned alternative tool uses as they apply to home maintenance.
Not only were our women and girls empowered by project success and the enthusiastic camaraderie of an all female environment, some also began to think entrepreneurially about personally created product as an opportunity for income. Because of this, ISDA has brought business classes to Ajo from the Micro Business Advancement Center in Tucson to assist women to make the leap from skills development to economic opportunity.
Funding for Shop Girls was provided by the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona. ISDA is searching for new funding.
Advice
- We are committed to fostering communication, understanding and cooperation among the diverse cultures residing in the area.
- Our vision is to establish the region as a showcase for environmental excellence and an international center for arts and culture with a prosperous and sustainable economy offering opportunities for all its residents.
Why My Cause Is So Important
Las Artes is a community arts program that addresses the educational needs of dropout and at-risk youth and provides a diverse population the opportunity to produce community arts projects while earning a GED or high school credits.
How I Got Involved With My Cause
Las Artes is a wonderful program that I became involved with because of my interest in international community development through arts and crafts.
