Larimar Wire Wrapping Training in the Dominican Republic

Pearls With Purpose, a program under the direction of Mentors International has trained women rescued from human trafficking in the Dominican Republic in the art of jewelry making and wire wrapping Larimar.

It is amazing to watch these women thrive!  As they are learning this new skill their whole outlook on life changes. They see possibilities. They take pride in their work. They are optimistic about their futures. They know that they now have a skill that they can use to help provide for their families.

The women trained have been rescued from human trafficking through Operation Underground Railroad and were given aftercare assistance. These aftercare facilities provide a safe place for these women and their children to live with support, counseling and now through your grant now vocational training in wire wrapping and business skills. We now have women-owned co-ops at two aftercare facilities in the Dominican Republic.

The women co-op trained from La Represa are either previous sex-trafficking victims or Haitian refugees. They live in such great poverty that they are very high-risk for trafficking. Rosa, is the co-op group leader from La Represa. She went back to her small village and trained 15 additional women on the artisan skill of wire wrapping Larimar Stones. That is the power of the ONE – they are able to pay it forward to others!

In addition to the jewelry making skills, these women are receiving business skills training, financial literacy classes, and on-going mentoring from our parent organization Mentors International. Mentoring sessions and business training classes are being well received. Their lives are already starting to change for the better. So many mothers and women are now filled with HOPE for the future

With deep gratitude, we thank you for supporting this worthy endeavor to create beautiful dignity and change women’s lives worldwide through mentorship and entrepreneurial training.

Read the inspiring stories of these artisans.