History

Threads of Hope was started in 1999 by Kim Nimon as a personal response to the need to break the cycle of poverty by empowering God’s people. A commitment to Christian principles for helping those in need had Ms. Nimon launch this life changing project to serve in the shantytowns just outside of Lima.  ToH works inconjunction with the Anglican Diocese of Peru.

Since its inception, ToH has come to support 22 artisans; they in turn hire out to 28 secondary producers, for a total of 50+ families affected by this project. ToH has increased sales from $7000 in 1999 to a record setting $118,000 in2008 - selling everything the women produce. The unique nature of this project, almost fully volunteer supported, allows for 90% of revenue to be returned to participating families. All revenue return is monitored throughout the process from the U.S., through the Anglican Diocese of Peru, and then to the women, so that financial accountability is transparent.

ToH is fortunate to have a volunteer in Lima who monitors the Lima side of the project. Jean, a committed and socially conscious Christian, meets with the three sewing groups each week, mentoring them through bible and book studies, as well as sharing her 70+ years of life wisdom and her huge heart of love for the ladies. Recently the group studied books on parenting skills and for pleasure Jean often reads to the women from such greats as The Chronicles of Narnia. Jean mentors the families in financial planning and works like a social worker in their lives. The program would not be where it is today without her care and concern for the women.

The benefits of our project are clear. Families living in scrap shanties now have homes with concrete floors, brick walls, and roofs instead of tarps. Children of poverty are in school, well fed, healthy, and now graduating as nursing students, a law school graduate, and several in trade school. In one generation to go from abject poverty to degreed children is certainly God’s majesty and blessing displayed, and the ripple effect for the generations to come is profound.

Threads of Hope is an economic development project of SEED Charitites, a 501c3 charitable non-profit