Refugee Women Craft Better Lives in Austin

1) http://www.mystatesman.com/news/lifestyles/fashion-style/crafting-a-better-future/nZs5C/

2) Category of Problem/Issue: Humanitarian 

3) Level of Issue: World/Local

4) Problem/Issue that Individuals/Families face: Helping to create jobs and secure living situations for women in need from other counties. 

5) Why this is important to individuals/families OR How does this affect individuals/families:

    It is important for individuals and families to step outside of their comfort zone and see the issues people just like ourselves are facing in other counties and how their situations aren't much different from the needs of people here in the states. 

6) What are your views on the issue/policy?

     Open-arms is a small textile manufacturing company based in Central Presbyterian Church on East Eighth Street in Austin, Texas. It is the workplace of seven refugees from different countries all brought to the U.S to better their lives and escape the terrors they each faced in their counties, whether it be war, oppression, trafficking, these women and their families now have the security of having a steady paying job of $17 an hour, a good amount of money. After a trip to Uganda, the founder of the organization decided that these women needed more and had the skills to produce the products she now sells. Her for-benifit idea in my opinion is one that could be molded to fit women struggling here in the states.      

Although, we lack certain technical skills that these women have grown up doing, it is a great concept and could be just what this country needs to help ease the level of poverty we are currently facing, but it would require someone like the founder of Open-arms who is willing to get out there and learn and teach so that progress can happen. I know this isn't exactly an issue,  but I fell like after everything we've discussed this week about poverty in our country, and other counties, it seemed to be a perfect example of an approach to end poverty.