By Timothy Straight | HDIF Founder
Manush was born disabled in the small, remote village of Goghovit in Shirak marz. Her twin sister did not survive. She walks with a cane, and has difficulties with stairways. She went to the local grammar school, but was not able to get a higher education, as the practicalities of travel to Gyumri every day would not allow it. Having said this, Manush's disability does not define her. She is strong. She is determined. And she is handles every challenge thrown at her with dignity and grace.
Manush proudly displaying one of her high quality products
HDIF was introduced to Manush by Women for Development in early 2013. They told us that she would represent an opportunity. At the same time, a friend in Moscow asked us if we had someone who could knit a sweater for him. HDIF soon learned how to design sweaters on bits of graph paper, and a steady flow of beautifully crafted sweaters in traditional themes like Ararat, the Armenian alphabet, Ughtasar cave paintings, Armenian carpets, and pomegranates flowed out to HDIF's clients.
Warm sweaters in original Armenian designs - Aybuben, Masis, Karpet, Khoier and Noor
Manush's collection was expanded to include hats and mittens, and kept many an Armenian head warm the long cold Winter of 2013.
Hats to match, in those five original Armenian designs
Each pattern is also available in mittens
That same year, Orange Armenia approached HDIF and asked if we could produce a knitted tea warmer in their company color to give as a corporate social responsibility Christmas gift. Of course HDIF can, because we know that Manush can. She gathered up the ladies of Goghovit, and they knitted tea warmers for three solid months. The income from this earned each of them enough money to give them a comfortable winter in Goghovit, the first one in many a year. Manush became a real asset to her community, a job creator.
Orange Armenia corporate social responsibility gifts being churned out in Goghovit
The Spring of 2014 arrived, and HDIF was thinking of what Manush could do during the warm Summer months. A Diasporan Armenian approached us and asked if we could make a knitted cushion cover with the traditional Armenian wedding phrase 'May You Grow Old on One Pillow' on it. Manush immediately starts churning these out, and many a newlywed couple has received these on their wedding day this Summer. Manush has been busy!
A classic Armenian wedding gift from Manush
Manush in the course of a couple of short years has become a real knitting machine..with a huge will to work and achieve, and an even bigger smile on her face. She is a determined woman, and HDIF is privileged to work with her. Having sold many of her hats and gloves at the first of this year's Christmas fairs yesterday, we today called up to Manush in Goghovit and asked her if she could produce some more before this Friday's next round of fairs.
Her response? 'Of course I can'
Manush knitting away on the steps of her home in Goghovit
HDIF exists to support women like Manush- the craftswoman, the driven woman who wants to improve her own situation through hard work.
Please help us support Manush and many other women like her through making a donation to HDIF's Global Giving campaign.
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