Della

Della supports the community of Hohoe, Ghana and the many challenges the community faces. This Episode proposal is the first challenge we will overcome:

Challenge: This morning I woke up and found out that the children of Happy Kids Orphanage live without beds, sleeping every night on the cold, concrete floor. I also found out that these beautiful, lively children barely get fed one meal a day.

We at Della can hardly imagine what life would be like trying to survive and thrive on less than one meal a day. The thought of these children, working all day at school, and going home to an orphanage where they have no place to lay their heads gives us the motivation to continue our work and contribute to the Hohoe community.

Solution: Della not only employs women of Hohoe, giving them an income and source of independence, but we also put aside proceeds from the sales of our bags for Happy Kids Orphanage. Knowing that we are faced with the challenge of the children needing proper beds, we plan to have a giant fundraiser with locals of the Los Angeles community. This fundraiser will have the goal of raising enough money to supply Happy Kids Orphanage with 20 beds.

Celebrate!! Della representatives will go directly to Hohoe, purchase and deliver the 20 beds to Happy Kids Orphanage. That afternoon Della will host a celebration at the orphanage with local music, art, dance and food. A true treat for the orphans and community!!

MORE ABOUT DELLA AND THE HOHOE COMMUNITY
Reality: A beaufitul, lush town in the heart of Ghana. People are sustaining themselves as farmers, yet life it tough. Jobs are scarce, education is poor and women have little independence outside of their home.

Imagine this: More jobs are provided to the community, women recieve skill training to work and be independent, education is being supported through funding that provideds supplies and teachers to the community.

What is Della?
An organization that helps empower the community and support the economy Hohoe located in the Volta Region of Ghana by providing jobs, skill training and education.

Los Angeles based designer Tina Tangalakis has always sought to combine her love of art and humanitarian work. Upon a recent visit to Ghana, Tina was greatly inspired by the beauty of local fabrics and touched by the heart of the people. There she decided to begin Della bags, an organization that would provide jobs to the local community while allowing her to access her creative skills.

The production of each bag provides jobs, education and skill training
to an underprivileged community. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of each bag also goes to a fund for Happy Kids Orphanage. Every bag is handmade in Hohoe, Ghana using local, limited-edition fabrics, and, of course, is environmentally friendly.

The Della Community:

Mary, seamstress, maker of Batik fabrics
Founder of Shalom Farms and The Golda Meir Girls Academy
Mary makes all of the Batik fabric used in Della handbags. She is also an
accomplished women’s rights activist and founder of Shalom Farms, NGO.
All of the money she makes from the sale of her fabric goes directly to The Golda Meir Girls Academy which will open in Fall 2010.

Wisdom, age 10
Happy Kids Orphanage
Wisdom has lived at Happy Kids Orphanage since the age of two. He considers the other children who live with him his family. Tina was greatly touched by Wisdom. He is a bright child who has no family to support him as he grows. The support of Della will provide a better education and skill training for Wisdom to have success after he leaves Happy Kids.

Tina Tangalakis, founder and designer
Upon a recent visit to Ghana, Tina worked directly with Happy Kids Orphanage and was greatly moved by the experience. She also developed relationships with locals in the community and realized how the struggling economy was a constant issue, especially with local women. This inspired her to find a way to help, and Della was created. Her intention is to provide jobs and education to the community, while bringing awareness of Hohoe’s struggle to the western world

Beatrice, head seamstress
Born and raised in Hohoe, Ghana. Beatrice is a talented seamstress who leads the team of women employed by Della.

A Glimpse at the Greater Hohoe Community:

Enoch, local artist
TIna

Kingsley age 9
Bernice, age 6
Tina

Wisdom, Etornam and Jonathan
Happy Kids Orphanage

Beta and her apprentice
local seamstresses

Tina and children at Happy Kids Orphanage

Patricia
mother, seamstress