I was introduced to Ramatu through Jan Haynes of Point Hope. Jan has made frequent trips to the Buduburam Camp and has come to know Ramatu well. “She is just an incredible person,” said Jan, “She radiates contentment. She is such a delight.”

Ramatu not only pursued training – and gathered women to be trained with her -but she then developed this community of women into a business. They secured a place to work, and with the support of Point Hope, were able to secure water for their batiking, and more recently, an electric sewing machine that allows them to do a more varied stitch pattern than there hand-crank sewing machine.

With income they just received from an order, the group of women chose to keep their money in a pool and purchase an embroidery machine that would allow them to produce a higher quality product. Considering the many necessities (food, for example) the women could have secured, the choice to purchase an embroidery machine shows an incomprehensible vision and determination to create a sustainable, long-term income.

This is where Sorrisi and Ramatu intersect. Ramatu and friends are now producing the soon-to-be-released Buduburam Tooth Fairy Pillow – from dying the fabric that is used in the pillow, to the embroidery and seamstress work required in the production. Sorrisi is their first “official” business order, and one that I’m hoping will sustain them for quite some time.

As you can imagine, there are many challenges in being the “first” anything – challenges I’ll address in later blogs. But back to the focal point. Ramatu. She overcame the shame and stigma to pursue getting much-needed medical treatment. She overcame insurmountable odds and received training in a trade. She surrounded herself with a community of women, became an entrepreneur, and is providing for herself and her family.

Ramatu is an amazing woman who’s God DOES accomplish amazing things.

(P.S. Ramatu’s husband came back around and decided it wasn’t so bad being her husband after all. Hmmm.)

Posted by: elisa