The Possible Life Center is not only about shared living. It is also an organized working group because obviously the community has to pay for rent, food, water and what else they need to survive. Therefore it is essential to earn money, which is even more difficult for a disabled person than one without certain limitations in Nepal because employers do not take them serious.
The group tried really hard to find some work but it took lots of time until finally a garment company offered them the job to produce traditional Nepalese cloths. For that of course they needed a work place and sewing machines. The group tried to find a donor and they were successful: through their church the ‘Nepal Hilfe e.V.’ from Germany built a small hut which they could use as a working place from now on. They got some sewing machines as a gift from another donor and bought some themselves, so they could finally start working.
Working for the garment company is a really hard job and for one order they work from early in the morning until the evening for a couple of days. Everybody is really motivated and proud to do something to earn money, but the wage they get for their work is really low and it is not enough to survive.
For one piece of cloths they get only 5 NPR, therefore the group had to look for more jobs. Through the church they got connected to someone who taught them how to make bracelets and necklaces, earrings and key chains with recycled paper. Always willing and happy to learn something new, they are now experts in doing handicrafts and the results are beautiful. The Possible Life Center can sell the jewelries in the streets or on Christmas markets to earn some more money.
How to make Jewelry with recycled paper
Step 1: choose a colour
Step 2: decide which size the pearl should have, scale and draw lines
Step 3: cutting the paper stripes
Step 4: rolling the paper around a stick (special tool)
Step 5: fix the rolled paper with glue, let it dry
Step 6: use two different glues for waterproofness and to make the pearl look nice and shiny
Step 7: putting the pearls together with wire and pincer
