A textile collective for Eldorado-Diadema, Brazil

The Eldorado Embroiderers at ACER Brasil are celebrating their seventh anniversary this month! In March 2017, 20 women and children started to meet in small groups for a few hours each week with Carol, their teacher, to learn how to embroider and how to use a domestic sewing machine. Now, 35 embroiderers and 10 teenage fashion students are taught by a team of 5 teachers and monitors, who also learnt their skills at ACER, in a large, dedicated workshop equipped with industrial sewing machines. Many of the women take additional courses held at ACER by local quangos and philanthropic organisations on, for example, garment making or entrepreneurship. They also celebrate birthdays in their workspace - the oldest in the group is Lucia, a lively great-grandmother who recently turned 80 - and they attend events such as Zumba sessions organised by ACER. As part of a vibrant and supportive textile group, their social lives have been enriched, and many of them report that their mental wellbeing has improved as a result of their participation.

Here are a few of their responses to an informal survey recently carried out by our media officer, Sabrina:

"What I like most here is the variety and the use of recycling, I think that's very important. I saw some of the work on show here at ACER and I got interested in taking the classes and learning embroidery, and now I've been here for two years. As well as learning new embroidery techniques, I also think it helps me psychologically, I relax, and there's also the interaction with colleagues, which is very important. Since starting the classes, I’ve created new products, and this helps me financially, because I can sell the products I make and this has really helped me."
Sueli, 57

"I love sewing, I've always sewn all my life, but here I'm always learning new things. I've lived here for 60 years, and one day when I was passing in front of ACER, I saw a friend and she invited me to the embroidery classes, I went in to see what the classes were like, I spoke to Carol and I've been here since that day, that's 6 years now. For me it's occupational therapy, because I'm dealing with depression and anxiety, so the classes are ideal for me, I'm occupying my mind…. and also the friendships I've made are very important, we work and have a lot of fun.”
Lúcia, 80

“I've always had experience in sewing, I worked for about 15 years just sewing, and as I was at a standstill, my sister-in-law told me about the project and I got interested in taking part. And there's everything here, all the materials we need, I can do sewing, I can do embroidery, I can learn and ask the teachers questions about anything I need."
Ivonete, 50

Thank you so much for your past and ongoing contributions to our project. Your generosity has helped many women who have faced challenges and has been instrumental for the positive impact it has made in the community of Eldorado-Diadema, São Paulo.