The New Workshop

In July 2003 the co-op received a substantial grant from the United Nations to build a new 60-foot by 80-foot facility, complete with child care facility and kitchen.

The workshop was finished a month and a half ahead of schedule and under budget! And now it has received the award for the best project in Honduras from PROBAP, a Honduran nonprofit organization through which the United Nations sends funds.

Thanx to the many friends of the Co-op who contributed to this wonderful project, in particular the people of the Irish village of Ballyferriter and the Dingle area of Ireland, who sent $500 through Mike Venner, father of Un Mundo volunteer facilitator Kate Venner, and his partner Camilla.

In Kate's words, "Rosario is very happy that the women finally have a place to work properly and that they are no longer crammed into a small room in her house." Employment capacity is now a maximum 80 women, thus increasing production capacity and, more importantly, impacting lives of many more Honduran families.

The workshop is named for Bertin Cortez Banegas, the late husband of Co-op director Rosario Lobo. Without Bertin's enlightened support, neither the Co-op nor Un Mundo could have succeeded as they have. He is deeply missed.

At the end of the week-long Community Development trip to Honduras,
June 21-28, 2004, Episcopal priest Brad Clark blesses the workshop.
Brad's blessing.

Here is what the Co-op and the workshop still needs:

• Fire extinguishers for workshop
• Sewing machines (used is fine)
• Sewing machine pedals
• Microwave (to heat the women's lunch)
• Scrap material for practicing
• Sewing scissors and other sewing equipment

Here are photos of the new workshop during construction.