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Funding
to Date:
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$1,330 (%)
As of Feb 09 02:57 2012
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Theme:
Economic Development
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Sponsor: Tech Museum Awards
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Project duration: Ongoing
Project's area of focus: improved health
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The ergonomic bench provides indigenous weavers with relief from pain and physical disability. Unlike the traditional kneeling posture, the ergonomic bench works in harmony with the body. It enables women to produce more textiles of better quality and increase their ability to provide for their families, while preserving their culture. We help carpenters learn to make the bench and we teach weavers to train each other to use the bench well, so that local communities can be self sufficient.
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We provide an educational resource kit to help carpenters increase their skills & livelihood while ensuring that the ergonomic features of the bench are preserved. We provide training to enable women to get maximum benefit from using the bench. |
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The ergonomic bench helps women increase family income, safely. This project helps local carpenters make benches for women in their communities, & helps women protect their own health while providing better nutrition & education for their children. |
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What used to take me three days to weave now takes two. With the bench I can weave for hours with no pain! My weaving comes out better, with straighter edges and more evenly packed weft.
- Maria, Beneficiary of the original project in Guatemala
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Karen Piegorsch,
President
4901 N. Calle Luisa
Tucson, AZ 85718
United States
5204001017
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The mission of Synergo Arts is to help artists and artisans around the world build their capacity for using ergonomics to maximize their health, income, performance, productivity, creativity, and art or craft quality. We do this through a grassroots approach to developing and delivering resources in ergonomics education, consulting and design. Our mission emphasizes self-empowerment for artisans who depend on their craft for survival.
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Synergo Arts develops and provides ergonomics education, consulting and design resources. In Latin America our current focus is a program that teaches carpenters to make an ergonomic weaving-bench, and trains weavers to use the bench for better health, increased earning potential, and preservation of their indigenous culture.
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Karen Piegorsch,
Founder, President
Founded in 2007
Employees: 0
Volunteers: 7
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Other funding sources: Private donors
Religious Affiliation: No religious affiliation.
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Founder of Synergo Arts. Leader of the design teams that created the ergonomic bench for backstrap weavers. PhD in health promotion, MS industrial engineering/ergonomics, BS physical therapy. Social entrepreneur. Over 30 years of hands-on experience including consulting and implementing ergonomic solutions for manufacturing, office and artist work environments. Spanish language skills.
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Guatemalan Mayan artisan skilled in backstrap weaving and bead work. Community leader and educator. Consultant who helps ensure the cultural appropriateness of this project's educational resources. Trainer, dedicated to helping women throughout Latin America learn to use the ergonomic bench.
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Over 20 years of hands-on, executive-level public sector experience; advising, developing and managing non-profit organizations. Entrepreneur & business owner/manager for 12 years. Guidance counselor and teacher of language arts, junior high & highschool levels, for 17 years. President, advisory board of the Conference of Northern California handweavers. Artist. Member of Weave a Real Peace.
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