It looked just like any other Christmas Party in the Philippines – women and children playing games, eating sweets and singing songs. But for the women of Red Rope, this was a very meaningful party. This was the first Christmas Party they had ever thrown at their own expense! And second, this month Red Rope was certified by the Philippine government as an independent cooperative!
Red Rope is a handicraft livelihood initiative of ICM. It started in 2006 when ICM-HK hoped to auction a handmade quilt at the 2nd HK ICM Banquet. Twelve ICM recipients, formerly from the Precious Women Ministry (for women leaving prostitution), were commissioned to hand-sew the quilt. It was beautiful and sold for HK$70,000 at the auction!
Now, 6 years later, Red Rope has become a self-supporting livelihood for 22 women, all of whom have been participants in an ICM program. Red Rope’s number one client is ICM, making all ICM’s Jumpstart school uniforms, ICM Teddy Bears and table prizes offered at ICM banquets. Red Rope items are also sold at fairs in Hong Kong and offered for sale by ICM partner NGOs at venues in the USA.
ICM COO, Helen Turner, who was a guest at the Red Rope Christmas party, says, “What an honor it was to be invited. The ladies beamed as they welcomed guests, even paying the taxi fares of those that arrived — for the first time able to give and not just receive. It was a joy to celebrate with them!”
Congratulations lovely ladies!! I have your creations here with me in Oxford, UK and I painted my playroom dark blue to match the Red Rope blue and white cushions I bought a few years ago. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’re making for sale these days, let me know when your website is up and running!! Blessings, Julie Turner.
Congratulations!! Wish I had a chance to visit you when I was in Bacolod last October but it was a holiday (over All Souls/All Saints Day). Like Jule, I can’t wait what you will be making for this year’s HK banquet. Lots of love, Aissa Montecillo
Congratulations!!!
Things that pertain to livelihood indeed has been given and matters beyond this physical existence –
2Pe 1:2 -3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
But where are the things which has already been given? The blessing is obtained hard diligent work. Like the ancient manna from heaven – they dont fall from heaven direct to the cooking pots but they must still be gathered early in the day. In other words, we who are able bodied must learn to gather or work.
Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
We must learn to do eventually to do things by the best we are able – no slipshod work but work worthy of praise (export quality, in the commercial world).
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
We all start working with our hands. As we get older we learn to work with our other faculties. One who got lesser education cannot say he or she cant be blessed because of lack of education. The bible does not say so. One can work with one’s hands AND he or she will have something to give to him or her or them that needs help.
And God blesses both. Or all – who receives and gives.
The Red Rope is a community illustrating the biblical principles. Again congratulations to Red Rope and to ICM for helping all these possible.