By day, Beth Lamont has been employed for the last 11 years as a full-time communications instructor in Dubai.
By night, Beth is actively involved in the Al Ihsan Charity in Ajman.
One of her dreams came true the day she and friends started the Ladies Handicraft Cooperative to assist the women of the charity.
She says, "I wanted to start a ladies' cooperative ever since my experience in Mexico. Living in America, I went there to help a group that ran a ladies' cooperative making pulsara friendship bracelets. The bracelets came with a card that had the signature of the woman who made it, and a little about the cooperative and its objective, which was to build a children's feeding centre.
"It also included a picture of the children eating at a centre that was to be completed by half the proceeds from each sale. The other half of the proceeds would go to the woman who had made the bracelet.
"When I saw this, I instantly liked the idea and took some bracelets back with me and sold them in the States while speaking at women's groups and then sent the money back to them. Eager to find out how they were doing, I visited them again the next summer along with my children, because I wanted to show them how other people lived. Some of these people would have to rummage through garbage sites for recyclables so that they could sell them to buy food. They lived in dilapidated conditions with few amenities."
When Beth returned, she found the feeding centre fully developed and functional, equipped with a refrigerator, stove, tables, chairs, storage cabinets. That was the point at which she thought of doing something similar when the time was right.
From dream to reality
Almost 20 years later, Beth found herself in the UAE where personal coach Cathy Darnell challenged her to work towards her life dreams. Starting from a list of 10 attainable goals, she shortlisted three and was then asked to pick one from that.
Before she knew it, she had more than half-completed her idea, concept and the mechanics – all she needed was to identify a suitable place to start. Her good friend, Lynne Haboubi who had been volunteering with the 'Back to School' Programme at the Al Ihsan Charity, suggested presenting the idea to the ladies who would stand in line for food each day at the charity in Ajman.
From then on, Beth and Lynn, along with another volunteer Petra Gerick put their heads together to transform the dream into reality. Through the assistance of Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, CEO of the charity, the dream finally got its own wings and the first successful Ladies Handicraft Cooperative sale took place at the monthly ARTE Souk in April 2007.
Cooperative care
The Al Ihsan Charity – established in 1998 to help women without spouses, and children without sponsors – caters to the needs of expat women living in the UAE who have lost the breadwinner of their family to death, a jail sentence, divorce or mental illness. Today, through the 'Ladies Handicraft Cooperative' and the 'Back to School Program', these people have another chance to earn their living and educate their children.
"The objective of the cooperative was to help the women become self-sufficient so they don't need to stand in line to get food," says Beth. "They get to keep the money from the sales after giving 10 per cent to charity and sometimes paying for the fabric. There are about 12 women from five families participating and we are all like family.
"I see them almost every week in their homes and know everything about them and their children". Whenever possible, Beth, Lynne and Petra contribute to the cause by purchasing fabric, thread, beads, and so on, so that the women can create beautiful handicrafts that indeed have their culture and determinedness woven
into them.
How you can help
If you would like to lend a hand, all you need do is visit the Ladies Handicraft Cooperative booth at the ARTE Souk on September 12 at the Times Square Center on Shaikh Zayed Road. Here you can find fabulous sheylas with crochet and beadwork, beaded belts, trendy bags with motifs and sequins, coasters, bookmarks, key rings, gift bags, jewellery bags and beaded bracelets.
The ARTE Souk takes place every second Friday of the month at the same place. You can also contact Beth at ladiescooperative_backtoschool@yahoo.com
Alternatively, to support the Back to School Programme of the Al Ihsan Charity, you can donate items to a garage sale taking place at the Arabian Ranches on September 25, where all proceeds will go towards educating 100 out of the 400 children at the charity. Contact Bela at belabhatt2004@yahoo.com.
- Odelia Mathews is a Dubai-based freelancer
