Inspiration from Climate Change

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the World Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. The conference was held in Cochabamba, a small city in Bolivia, where the Water War took place in 2000.

Unfortunately the vast majority of the publicity and attention that was given to this event focused on the interesting opinions expressed by the Bolivian president Evo Morales during the inaugural speech, regarding chickens, plastic and Coca Cola; diverting from the importance of what actually took place during this historic and symbolic global event, where people from all over the world congregated to speak of our environmental crisis and what can be done to reverse or stop Climate Change.

I feel blessed to have witnessed and experienced this 4 day conference, where 17 important and specific topics where discussed concurrently in work groups with the intention of drafting a document to be presented to the UN in Cancun this December, specifying what the People want, in regards to the care of our Mother Earth.

Beyond any expectations of what may actually happen with these requests, my experience of this event lies in the beauty and love which all the participants have for our planet. Thousands of people from all over the world, gathered to express their love and respect for our Earth, with the intention of shifting the way Earth, our Mother is being treated. I didn’t hear in depth scientific explanations regarding why Carbon Dioxide/Monoxide, etc is causing catastrophic damage to our atmosphere at a rate of blah blah blah… instead, I heard over and over again, Earth (Pacha) is our Mother (Mama), and we must protect our Mother, because without our Mother we seize to exist, not the other way around.

This voice resonated amongst everyone their, where differences in color, race and nation no longer divided, but united in harmony and love for our Mother Earth. 

I feel deeply inspired by this experience, and feel it will shape in some way the manner in which I grow my Social Enterprise. Its not just about seeking materials or processes which are friendlier to the environment, it has now become about seeking ways in which I can choose to show my love and respect for Mother Earth, in what I do and how I am.  I realize this is a huge commitment, however in light of the past and how it has not served our Mother, I feel its time for huge commitments. 

What are some of the commitments that you can  make today to show your love and respect for our Mother Earth?

Click here to go to the official World People's Conference website

What inspires me about working with incarcerated women

I love presenting my team of knitters with a new design for them to make, at the moment we are working on our new Cardiwraps, made in Baby Alpaca. When they are presented with a new design, initially they act nervous and express concern, doubting their ability to do it. We go over the instructions carefully, exchange ideas of how to best work the design, negotiate a wage that is fair and works for them, they express their concern once again just in case I didn’t hear it the first time; and off they go. We have worked on many new designs and they are not only able to make them, but make them beautifully excelling their own expectations of what they are capable of. They have yet to realize how talented and smart they are, I am here to remind them.

Why this group of women holds such a dear space in my heart is hard to say. What I do know is that they inspire me with their will to survive and ability to laugh and smile. Despite their limited freedom and living conditions they seem to be aware that they are free to choose their state of being and attitude. I am always greeted with a smile and appreciation for the work we do. They have shared that knitting brings them peace, I hope they know that the peace they are feeling is coming from within them, and has always been their regardless of their circumstances.

Working with these women brings me great joy; I am grateful to have broken away from my past conditioning and trusted my own heart. It is within the echoes of the heart, where our song resides. Learning to listen is the first step, and by far the hardest. However once we open ourselves up to listening to the echoes, the song little by little starts to make sense and alas… in a matter of time we re-member the words and the rhythm so clearly it almost seems strange to not have noticed it before. In that moment there’s no turning back, the song becomes us and our heart is free to be and lead once again. The mind is a powerful tool, to be used in service of the heart, once we align to this, things seem to easily fall into place. 

Everyday I awake, and am marveled by the life I have chosen and created. Everyday a fear of some sort wants to be heard, and on most days I remind myself to allow my heart to lead the journey and trust that there is no-thing to fear for when we follow our heart, we are authentically living in complete alignment with our purpose and universal birth right. 

Children raised in Jail

Upon my first visit to the Women’s Jail in La Paz back in 2005, I immediately noticed that knitting inside the jail is a form of life, and a means of survival. The items these women knit are meant to be sold in the outside world, and in some cases made for outside Artisans, most of who pay very low wages.  

Another peculiarity of this jail is that it houses more children than inmates, being that the women who have children, which most do, are legally allowed to bring their children under the age of six into the jail with them, in order to protect them from being out on the streets or in abusive homes. It is not uncommon for some of the women to have more than one child in the jail with them and some children over the age of six remain within the jail if special circumstances exist, and they don’t have a safe alternative. The children are given free medical assistance, food and daycare. The children who are over the age of 6, are escorted out of the jail everyday to attend school and at the end of the day, escorted back in.

At first glance, this situation seems inadmissible and hard to image, yet as I ponder on the available alternatives, I can appreciate the benefits of housing the children close to their mothers, who at the very least have the option of nurturing them while incarcerated.

Another benefit of having children within the jail is that it seems to keep the women busy and focused on their priorities, which I believe lessons the outbreak of violence and confrontations amongst the inmates. I have never felt unsafe while visiting the jail, and appreciate the little smiling faces I encounter during my daily visits.

Having shared this, I don’t believe a prison of any kind is an ideal environment for a child’s upbringing; they are exposed to women who have committed violent crimes, drug and alcohol abuse, conjugal visits, older children who in some cases have been brought up in abusive environments and other situations children are not emotionally or mentally prepared for.

However in Bolivia an alternative does not yet exist which provides the children a home environment that encourages them to thrive, while allowing them the freedom to visit and connect with their mothers on a regular and consistent basis.

These children are not street kids or orphans, they have mothers.  However within most homes or orphanages, the children are not able to visit the prison to see their mothers, due to the lack of available human resources needed to physically take the children to the jail on a regular basis.  This is why most mothers choose to take their children inside the jail with them, as opposed to leaving them in a home.

The penitentiary system in Bolivia has questioned this arrangement for years, especially in regards to the safety of the children living in the men’s jail; however an alternative has not been brought forward which is financially realistic and meets the needs of the inmates and the penitentiary system to date.

In the mean time, I continue to work with these mothers, and enjoy the presence of these little beings, appreciating how they so naturally elevate the mood and loving within the prison walls. 

Some years ago, during a visit to her native homeland of Bolivia, Sonia Gallardo, a knitting enthusiast and founder of the socially conscious business Knitting Peace, was struck with the realization of a need for opportunity in one of the least common places to be associated with opportunities, a correctional facility in La Paz, Bolivia. This insight marked the birth of Knitting Peace; a social enterprise committed to making a difference by empowering incarcerated women in Bolivia with opportunities to continue to support themselves and their families while engaging in therapeutic work so part of their heritage, knitting.

What makes Knitting Peace knits different?

At first glance, these ultra soft hand knit Alpaca products evoke sensations of indulgence, warmth and nurturing. However, to really get a

sense of what makes these products special, it serves to hear the story behind them.

The story begins with women convicted until proven innocent of crimes such as theft, fraud, debt and drug trafficking. Their freedom depends on their ability to obtain legal representation, usually impossible due to their level of poverty. However, the peculiarities of these jail sentences don’t stop there. In a country as poor as Bolivia, children of indigenous decent have few options, including having to live with their mothers within a jail or correctional facility if she is incarcerated. Furthermore, these facilities do not have enough provisions to meet all the needs of these mothers nor their children and thus the women are forced to continue to work while incarcerated to support themselves and their children.

Obtaining work within a jail is hard enough, and even harder for a population with little formal education. However, most of these indigenous women were gifted early on with the skill of knitting, weaving and crocheting, passed on through the generations as a means to endure the cold winters in the Andes. And this is where Knitting Peace comes in, serving as the much needed bridge to opportunities, empowerment and sustainability.

Knitting Peace recognizes the natural craftsmanship these local artisans are known for as an opportunity that can be leveraged into financial freedom for these women and their children. Under the dismal circumstances of Bolivian jails that house both these women and their descendants, this opportunity is serving to nurture both the soul of the women and the children that they feed.

Luxury Meets Generosity

The products created by the women of Knitting Peace exude the artistry of an ancient wisdom passed from generation to generation, fused with a modern touch. The materials used are clearly intended to invoke the tradition of their native Andes yet in a contemporary, luxurious and practical way. This is achieved by means of the material, Alpaca fiber that is often compared to cashmere yet due to its thermal qualities can be used in warmer weathers, and the deep and rich colors used throughout the product line.

True to the known Andean form, the quality of the products show the women take great pride in the work they are doing. Every scarf, wrap & throw blanket gives off a sense of appreciation and care. But what makes these products really beautiful is how in their creation, the women of Knitting Peace are empowered through their heritage artistry to provide for themselves and open up the road of opportunity for their families.