what

An educational project aimed to engage with school-age children while supplying the tools to use in producing pieces in arts and craft.

A fun and practical way to teach young generations about the ancestral traditions in textiles.

An opportunity for connection through work that is meaningful, inspirational and beautiful.

A way to learn about how people live and produce art in other parts of the world, while attempting to use that knowledge “hands-on”.

why

Because we feel that our current world could use a practical way of connecting with our ancestral cultures and their way of living and creating in community.

The Hands On project has been conceived from our commitment to preserving traditional textile techniques and the evident need for future generations to learn the “how-to” of them in a fun and play-based way.

In our current times, when the teaching and passing on traditions and their cultural iconography has become essential for many working techniques to continue to exist and be re-interpreted by younger generations, we feel compelled to create a method and a platform that will allow us to facilitate educating and engaging school-age children and their caregivers through hands-on activities that will bring those ancestral traditions and their textile applications back into contemporary lives.

The project platform is designed with sustainability in mind, utilizing noble and simple materials and sourcing the components of the assembled work kits from origin. We want the children practicing the techniques to be able to experience the sense of culture and community that all these traditions have carried throughout time.

how

Engaging young, curious, creative individuals with playful work that allows them to express themselves through experience and share.

The project has two strong arms:

The KITs that can be purchased at selected locations: retail and museum stores, craft shops, textile art events and on our online platform.

The in-person WORKSHOPS that will be conducted and guided in various locations such as schools, community centers and textile art events.

The KIT: A basic shape -teeshirt- made to fit school-age children’s sizes (S and L) that is meant to be finished by the child together with a parent, caregiver or teacher using traditional techniques that we will translate and provide as instructions for easy understanding and following. These instructions will be video-documented at locations where the textile masters/teachers reside and do their work and will be available to download following a provided QR code link available in our online platform.

The instructions will include a brief introduction of the local culture, the name and experience of the master/teacher and followed by a short description of the technique and demonstration of suggested work.

The original culture around each technique and the personal story of the teacher/master are for us very important to give context and assist in relating as individuals and as a community.

The WORKSHOPS: planned and spontaneous gathering of school-age children will occur at various locations, when a teacher/master will introduce the technique or techniques to be available for the practice workshop. Materials and supplies will be offered and guidance will be given at all times during the workshop. These workshops will be documented and used for future reference. The participants get to apply the techniques introduced during the workshop on garments that are theirs to keep.

when

The time is NOW, to engage and get involved in the process of developing The Hands On Project. As we finish our registration for a non-profit organization, we are seeking individuals and organizations that will join us in our task of EDUCATE, PRESERVE and CONNECT.

While we are working on identifying and setting-up future locations where we will be able to offer the KITs for purchase, our workshops to happen, we welcome feedback, suggestions and financial support towards the development of the project and to amplify awareness about textile traditions.

Please reach out if you have questions or ideas about how to grow!

Our temporary email is thehandsonproject.org@gmail.com