Power of Hands Galle Lace Project aims to preserve and make more marketable traditional products in order reduce its reliance on a now all but non-existent tourist industry. The objective of Power of Hands Foundation is to raise awareness of traditional and dying crafts which are being replaced by mass production and to bring in educational programmes set up by designers from the film and fashion industry, so that with investment and training crafts-people produce goods which will appeal to the global market.

As countries develop and aspire to the western way, traditions and cultures are often lost. Crafts people involved in these industries are generally women and their economic empowerment through self-employment is central to this initiative.

Power Of Hands has currently assessed the skills of 100 women and designed and produced new products which with the UK educational programme can provide expertise in design, business training and marketing.The project aims to improve social, living and working conditions while raising awarenessof dying craft skills worldwide.

In 2008 this programme offers the women a chance to rebuild their lives by utilising their existing craft skills and can benefit from the newmarket opportunities created over the past 3 years via Andrea’s activities.

In Sri Lanka we need to provide them with improved living and working facilities. Many of the craftswomen are elderly, widowed or have families to support. However with lack of employment opportunities young people are also dependent on the project.

Background:Andrea Galer has been designing costumes for the last 25 years. Alongside her film work are Andrea’s fashion collections. In all herwork she strives to support dying traditional skills such as hand weaving andlace making, as well as vulnerable crafts people. Andrea’s business activities offer promotional and educational links to her the charity wing.

This is an ethical project looking to stabilize craft people’s lives and bring them a sustainable business and marketable products, which can then be soldworldwide.

As countries develop and aspire to Western culture traditions and cultures are often lost. The objectives are to raise awareness to traditional and dying crafts being replaced by mass production. To implement training programmes run by designers from the fashion,design and film industries that can train crafts people living in poverty to produce goods that appeal to the western market thus enabling them to subsist independently.

Power Of Hands - Galle Lace Project

The devastation caused by the December 2004 Tsunami that ravaged thecoast of Sri Lanka, it is estimated that over 2.5 million people in Sri Lankawere displaced and/ or lost their livelihoods as a result of the disaster and40,000 were killed. 3 years on many people are still affected and are currentlydealing with no funds to deal with the long term problems the wave andcivil war have brought to their lives.

Andrea Galer set up ‘Power of Hands Galle project’ 3 months after the Tsunami to help the crafts people (women) who amongst their skills make bobbinlace.The project is essential for the women and well grounded through her UK activities.