Ergonomic benches for Mexican backstrap weavers

by Synergo Arts

Project Report | Jan 22, 2008
Lots of action "behind the scenes'

By Karen Piegorsch | Project Director

Many thanks to the folks who have helped support this project so far!

There has been a lot going on “behind the scenes” to get the benches into the hands of the women who need them. Here is some of what we have done recently:

- During Juana Ramos’ visit to Tucson in October (please see the October 2007 progress report) we created an educational poster for the weavers, refined the trainers’ manual, and developed script and storyboard for the DVD.

- With the help of woodworking consultants we have come up with ways to adapt the bench design so that it can be made from different types of locally available wood without losing the ergonomic functions so crucial to the weavers. Now we are preparing the kit for carpenters.

- During a trip to Guatemala in November we made a series of presentations with organizations interested in working with us, in both Guatemala and Mexico, to (a) set up training for carpenters, and (b) help distribute the bench and education to weavers.

- Also while in Guatemala in November we interviewed and got bids from DVD producers. Pending funding, we are ready to produce the DVD!

Links:

Updates to the webpage include a new videoclip in Spanish!

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Oct 9, 2007
(1) Update on educational DVD; (2) User Centered Design Award

By Karen Piegorsch | Project Director

This photo shows how the women are taught to fit the bench to th

We are delighted to report that Juana Ramos is visiting us here in Tucson, October 6-20th! Juana, a Mayan woman who speaks Spanish along with her native Kaqchikel, is from San Jorge la Laguna, a small town on the shores of Lake Atitlan. She was the primary trainer for the 150 women who began using the Bench during the pilot project. Juana will be helping us refine the educational content and ensure the cultural appropriateness of the educational DVD for indigenous people.

This DVD is an important way to make information available to backstrap weavers, enabling them to learn how to use the Synergo Weaving Bench safely and to maximum benefit –after all, the transition from kneeling to sitting while weaving is a major change. In thinking about that change, it’s important to realize that this project originated within the indigenous community: the women themselves recognized that kneeling is stressful. They had been looking for alternatives to the traditional working postures, and asked Synergo assistance in designing a viable way to sit while weaving. However, even though the Bench is intuitively easy to understand, it takes time for our bodies to adapt to new postures. The DVD will help the women adjust the bench to fit their individual bodies. It will help them learn new body movements, and develop the strength and coordination necessary to use them while weaving!

Now is an important time for the fundraising efforts of Synergo Arts and we are grateful for your support. Donor contributions are essential for us to proceed with this part of the project. And, once the DVD has been created in Spanish, we plan to translate and dub it in indigenous languages of Latin America, in order to make this education accessible to all.

2007 User Centered Design Award

We are excited to report that the Synergo design team has been honored with an award for the Synergo Weaving Bench. The Human Factors & Ergonomics Society’s Product Design Technical Group presented us with the 6th Annual User Centered Design Award at the HFES annual conference in Baltimore on October 2nd.

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Organization Information

Synergo Arts

Location: Tucson, AZ - USA

Project Leader:
Karen Piegorsch
President
Tucson , AZ United States

Funded Project!

Thanks to 28 donors like you, a total of $1,330 was raised for this project on GlobalGiving. Combined with other sources of funding, this project raised enough money to fund the outlined activities and is no longer accepting donations.

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