New Women’s Group Making Exercise Books

THE “Red Thread” women’s group is trying to ease the shortage of exercise books for students by making some locally and putting them on the market at cheap prices.

Andaiye, a co-ordinator of the group says that 15 Red Thread members have recently been producing exercise books which are being sold to students at three dollars each.

She says, however, that despite their best effort to prevent the books from being sold on the blackmarket, members have received reports that the item has been sold for exorbitant prices.

A Canadian organisation CODE, contributes free paper to the exercise book project and the books are produced at facilities at Meten-Meer-Zorg, on the West Coast, Demerara, she said.

Red Thread was formed in October, 1986 and has its headquarters in Quamina Street in the city.

Andaiye explained that the group consists of between 80-120 employed and unemployed women “who are trying to create situations with opportunities for women to earn more financially.’

Andaiye is a senior member of the opposition Working People’s Alliance (WPA) but she stressed that Red Thread is non-WPA.

“All the group is trying to do is to help women in management, skills and training to meet their real needs. She noted.

She said the group strives to be multiracial and it does work with Black and Indian communities. It has also developed informal links with Amerindian women she added.

Red Thread also produces embroidery and other items which are sold locally. Exports of the group’s products are limited.

Among the areas Red Thread concentrates on are generating income for women, research, documentation and establishing networks, Andaiye said.

It is hoping to involve other women’s groups in launching soon a new book by Guyanese Neisha Haniff. The book profiles Caribbean women, both known and unknown.

The book is sponsored by the Women Development Unit of the University of the West Indies and the idea behind the project is to get it on the school’s curriculum here, she said.

Haniff’s book,- ’Blaze O’ Fire” is expected to be released in March.

The group is also into joint projects with a sister organisation in Jamaica called ‘Sistren’ using drama to educate.

(Nivedta Kowlessar)