To learn more about the projects, or to order products shown on these pages, you can email Sandra at sandraffc@videotron.ca

Some FFC products are sold in the US at Shanti a shop in Virginia.

ELIZABETH'S CO-OP

Elizabeth Dozois, husband Chris, son Grady and daughter Arden visited FFC in Podanur, South India for a brief 10 days. But even though it was a short visit, Elizabeth started working the night she arrived and opened our first women's Co-Op, which we named Elizabeths!

12 women are now earning an extra income (in addition to the salary they make at FFC) making crazy quilted small bags out of our own Medleri silk. This is silk made from damaged cocoons that would otherwise have been discarded, and we now weave metres of it. It can be used for large items, and is perfect for small sized items. It is spun and woven right on the project in Podanur. At right, Elizabeth models a Crazy Quilt bag.

Below, some samples our of Crazy Quilt bags

FFC Co-op Leader Mano

Manorangidam, shown at right and known as Mano, is head of the Women's Co Op.Mano arrived at FFC India in 1994 when she was about 14 years old, along with a brother Prakash. Her mother committed suicide because of an abusive husband. Both children were placed on a farm as bonded labourers to pay off the father's debts, and both were ill-treated. Prakash became ill with hepatitis, and Mano was sent to care for him. The hospital notified us, and once Prakash was well enough both children came to us. Mano told us of a younger brother who was forced to work with construction labourers. We found him, and he finished school with us. He works in a sock factory, which he loves. Prakash also has a job now, and the three are very close. FFC placed Mano in a batik and bag making course, and she had a talent for it. She is a sweet young woman and now heads up our Women's Co Op.

Medleri Silk Project

Using a wheel called a Charkha, FFC girls and women spin thread from damaged cocoons into a knubbly silk thread. The thread is then dyed and woven at the project, then woven on a big loom into a silk called Medleri. We make this silk into jackets, purses and Crazy Quilt Bags. The colors are extraordinary. The bags shown on this page are made of this Medleri silk and other materials.

The Crazy Quilt bags produced at FFC are priced at $15 Canadian.
The bags are 9 inches in length and 7 inches wide, with a long cord and two zippered pockets.

WASTE SILK WEAVING PROJECT

Another project currently underway involves taking waste silk ends discarded by the mills. This material is then processed and spun into yarn, before the weavers at FFC use it to produce small area rugs and mats. Katie, a long-time visitor at the project, is shown at right modelling a rug made from waste silk.

As shown above, the rugs and mats are produced in a variety of colors. The mat and runner set shown above right is available for $40.00.

THE WOMEN'S CO-OP

FFC Bangladesh also has a Co-op, and it is working out very well. We have seven women sewing, three of whom are our own girls. Salma Akter is 22 years old. She attended school up to grade eight. She then worked in a handicraft shop for five years doing hand embroidery before coming to work in our co-op two years ago. She now lives with five other girls in a room they have rented. Popy is 20 years old, and has three sisters and one younger brother. Her father died, and she now lives with her mother who does tailoring work from her home. Popy is attending college on weekends, and also helps to support her family. At this time they are making hand-painted bags.

FFC GOAT PROJECT

The FFC Goat Project began with donations from Susan and Brian Dutton, the daughter and son in law of FFC friend Dr. Michael Allen. Michael is a retired pediatric surgeon who has travelled with FFC since the late 70's. At right, Lawrence and the goat farm staff.

All our goats are high yield milking goats and we are in the process of building the herd up to the point where we no longer buy cow milk for the project. All our babies have been on goats milk for a number of years. This is a major benefit for our children as we no longer depend on others for milk. Soap is also made as well, and is also sold abroad. We hope to make our own goats milk cheese in the future. All this helps to ensure the children get the best quality nutrition.

Susan Dutton has sent this update about some of the goat personalities.... Lawrence, the goat-herder, reported that a goat named Becky likes music. He plays music on his cellphone, and she loves to stand and listen to it. Becky is shown at left working her way through the Top Forty. Becky also has an amazing internal clock, and knows when things are going to happen. For example, at 12:15 she walks over to the ramp, ready to move inside at 12:30. She is the female goat leader. Another goat, named Sandra, also likes to listen to music, but only for about one minute.

Becky's kid, Emily, is being weaned along with the other young goats. They are given less milk and more greens, but Emily will cry for milk at those feedings where milk is not on the menu. Emily loves her milk! Tracy is the tallest goat in the herd, and Lawrence says she is his favourite. She goes over and leans on Lawrence, and he gives her a scratch on the head in return.

Project participants also now make small paper bags. We have one small paper press and with the financial help of Tina Chamandy, we ordered a large one that will enable us to make wrapping paper and large paper bags. At right, John Peter and John Basa making paper. Below, Saravanan designs, draws and paints the paper cards.

The pictures on the right show some examples of cards designed by Saravanan. (Click on picture for larger view)

PAPER MAKING PROJECT

In 2003 after many years of attempting to get this project off the ground, three young visitors (children adopted years before from FFC India) were able to launch the project in just a few days. Since then the progress has been amazing. The project leader is Chittra, a long time member of our staff. Although she had no experience in making paper, she agreed to take it on along with a few of our young men who have various disabilities, and are likely to remain with us for years.

Despite a lack of experience and little equipment, the project has advanced. The paper has gone from very rough to a good product, from which we make all our cards and envelopes. The end result is hardly slick, but cards painted with scenes by our resident artist Saravanan and embroidered by some of the boys and girls are each unique and lovely. The project uses up old paper, newspapers from the project and is yet another great recycling scheme. An example of the hand made paper with embroidery is shown at left.

GARDENING AND COMPOSTING

Although FFC has always tried to compost most kitchen scraps and goat dung, it was not until a couple of years ago that vermi composting was started. A wonderful businessman, Mr. Senthilnathan, suggested contacting a friend of his who would get us the special worms and give us advise. Now, all kitchen scraps and left over food is collected each day from each the FFC houses and delivered to the worms, who go to work! They devour the mix, expel it in dark brown casings which, when mixed with the goat droppings, make a wonderful and plentiful compost. When we start our next project, a plant nursery using the coconut coil and coir in place of peat moss and peat pots, we will also be able sell our compost as we are starting to generate a great deal of it.

Rangaswamy (a gardener), Kumar and Duraiswami (also a gardener) provide the expertiese for the FFC gardening project. They are seen above standing in front of the large vermi composting pits.

At left, tomatoes and brinjal are grown in the Special Care garden, and brought to the main kitchen for use.

The material is then heated in pots over a fire to melt the wax. Once the wax is gone, the material is removed from the pot. The heating process is shown in the photo below.

BATIK PROJECT

FFC India has recently launched a new project, producing a line of Batik products. The first part of the process involves bleaching the cotton to a pure white, drawing the pattern on the cloth in pencil, as shown at left, and then painting the wax on to the pattern. Next, the workers measure out the powders needed for dying, and grind the ingredients in a mortar and pestle. The material is dipped into pots and dyed, as seen below.

The material is then hung up to dry, and the result is the finished batik product. We will eventually have a line of linens such as placemats, runners. tea cozies and aprons. Shown below are a selection of batik scarves.