SoulSong Enterprises: May 2009

In April SSEGO visited 3 of the communities that we assist in cottage industry development. Additional sewing skills were shared, new project ideas expressed, needed materials were delivered and continued community needs were assessed. Friendships were deepened and local and non local relationships broadened. All of the communities expressed tremendous gratitude for SSEGO'S assistance and to all "the wonderful people" world wide who purchase their "Special Companion Guardian Angel Dolls". Each community expressed their hopes, optimism and commitment to creating positive change in the quality of their lives and their children lives.

The following photos are of the La Carpio community outside of San Jose, Costa Rica. They live in tin shanties and do the best they can to care for their children. Below you will see a typical La Carpio neighborhood and home. Currently there are over 20 women perfecting their doll making and seamstress skills. This number is rapidly growing. Please view the doll page on the website for additional information about each of the communities.

The Following are photos of some of the Cabecar mothers, children and teens. The Cabecar Indiginous live far back in the mountains and across a wide river from the community meeting center. They walked 1.5 to 2 miles to spend time with us and show us their new bark sculptures. Once used for clothing, hammocks and other functional community items the Cabecar are now making bark cloth angels exclusively for SoulSong available through our website, SoulSong Gatherings and artisan fairs. Other whimsical bark sculptures are available at SoulSong Gatherings(see website "Gathering" page). The Cabecar still speak only their native indigenous language and one community elder who also speaks Spanish translated for us. The children are now learning Spanish, the predominant language of Central America.

The following photos are of Bahia Honda off the coast of Panama and the home of the Ngobe women and their families. The women learned additional sewing skills for the Guardian Angel Special Companion dolls. The women received their new treadle sewing machines.