One of the aims of the Centre for the Working Girl (CENIT) is to help working girls and their families break the cycle of poverty by equipping them with a means to financial independence.

“The centre places a special emphasis on helping girls and their mothers to acquire a valuable skill as a distressingly large proportion of the adult women in the girls’ families are subject to abuse and degradation because they have no money or means of their own to escape such a life,” explains CENIT’s director Hermana Jacqueline.

CENIT runs workshops in sewing, leather crafts, baking and jewellery making, among others. As well as learning practical skills, the girls and women are helped to develop a strong belief in themselves and their capabilities.

As the end of a school year drew to a close, CENIT workshop leaders reflected on the year’s successes:

Leather work for girls (clases de cuero)

“At the moment there are eight girls (aged between 13 and 15) in the Clase de Cuero all working between 9am and 12pm, Monday to Thursday. The girls work hard each day to make the wallets, belts, bags and bracelets that are then sold to give them a monthly salary. This month has been successful as we had several orders from Europe. Three were from ex volunteers who now, back home, saw that CENIT products could easily be sold, in their old primary schools for example. Sonrisa also ordered a selection of our products to sell at the recent Latin American Rhythms Festival in London at the end of June. All profits from sales of the items went to CENIT. If anyone wants to buy any of our products please talk to Susannah.”

Jewellery making for mothers (bisutería)

“Jewellery classes are now held on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for two hours. At the moment there are five women attending the classes, although rarely do all five attend at the same time. The jewellery that has been made recently hasn’t been selling that well, so I have been introducing them to new materials to give them a little more inspiration, imagination and motivation. I occasionally buy a jeweller magazine to help give them fresh new ideas; however, most of what they make they design themselves. I recently took the class to visit the bead shops in the Centro Historico, so they could see what was available and choose some amterials themselces. They also then had the opportunity to see some of the jewellery styles that are on sale. When the jewellery is sold, the woman who originally made it gets 80% of the price and the jewellery classes get the other 20% for new materials.”

Baking for girls and mothers (panadería)

“Cinnamon rolls, honey oatmeal bread, and chocolate chip cookies are just a few of the sweet treats that have been coming out of the panadería lately. The workshop finishes on July 6th for the school year, and we’re looking to “graduate” 5 students. They have turned into capable and talented panaderos, and even successfully made bread when the teacher wasn’t there. Thanks to all of those who have bought our products, we’ve even managed to earn enough money to pay for all our supplies, meaning that we’ve been financially independent. All and all, a great year!”