The Economic Development Programme supports SKIP families in the creation of sources of sustainable income through the provision of microcredits, group and individual consulting, and a programme of Handicraft Workshops. We work with more than 140 families through two distinct projects:

Microcredits– we offer microcredits that will help generate a new source of income for families, along with business workshops and support and advice in the launch of new businesses. Small loans are also offered to carry out home improvements and cover health emergencies.
Handicraft workshops– we have developed three types of workshops that enable the women we work with to develop skills, such as sewing, weaving and production of jewellery. We also offer business workshops and, through the work of our volunteers, support the women in the commercialisation and sale of their products. In addition to providing an additional income, the handicraft workshops are an opportunity for the women to learn skills related to design and the production of textiles and handicrafts, like bags and jewellery, which allow the ladies to explore their artistic creativity. At the same time, It is also a space to share experiences with other women from the community and feel connected to a team.
Three types of productive workshops are currently offered, and we are constantly updating and improving them: sewing, knitting, and jewellery production. Sales of finished products are coordinated, both in local tourist shops and to volunteers at SKIP.

The Position

The Fashion Designer will be under the supervision of Family Welfare Coordinator. They will be responsible for facilitating and supervising the daily development of the productive handicrafts workshops that are carried out with the mothers of SKIP families three times a week.
This position demands creativity, and will involve direct work with the women from the groups. The volunteer must also be able to help in the planning of workshop sessions, always maintaining the logistical and administrative aspects of the project completely up-to-date.
While we ultimately prefer our EcoDev Volunteers to speak some level of Spanish, we currently offer a limited amount of spaces for those who do not speak Spanish. However, priority will be given to those who are able to stay longer and are committed to improving their language abilities.
In addition, volunteers will be asked to spend at least one session per week working with the children in the education programme which is requested of all volunteers so they are able to gain a wider perspective for the work that we are doing.
Team Responsibilities:

Session planning and supervision of the development of productive workshops
Research up to date trends and create new products based on these trends
Source materials from local markets and shops
Analyse cost breakdowns in the development of new products
Maintenance of effective communication with the mothers that attend the workshops
Administration of the projects
Recording sales and tracking stock locations on our Salesforce database
Identification of new sales opportunities
Preparation of consistent and timely reports on the work for the Coordinator of Family Welfare
 The Benefits of Volunteering with Us

In return for your invaluable participation in our volunteering programme, SKIP will provide:

A thorough induction to the organisation, programmes, department and specific role
Structured and relevant training from fully qualified and experienced staff members - you can read bios for all our permanent team on the website
Mentoring and support in the form of regular supervision and staff meetings as well as informal sessions
The chance to be a part of a diverse and dedicated team and a welcoming community
A letter of recommendation upon request after completion
Volunteer Profile

Requirements:

Degree in fashion design or past experience working in fashion design
Background in product development, from initial research and design to production and
quality control
Some familiarity with tools of administration, commercialization and design
Minimum commitment of 6 weeks
Strong communication and organisational skills
Empathy, open-mindedness and friendship in all dealings with the women we work with
Capacity for teamwork, but also able to use own initiative and work independently
Disposition and capacity to live modestly and work with limited resources
Desired:

Intermediate level of Spanish
Familiarity with ethical and fair trade
Previous work experience in South America
Experience with Salesforce databases
Ready to take the next step? Click here to download an application form

Feel free to email contact@skipperu.org with any questions