2006 Economic Development Award Laureate
Synergo
| Laureate Country: United States |
| Project Country: Guatemala |
| Website: www.bewellworkbetter.com |
| Video: 2006Videos/synergo.mov |
Project Overview:
Synergo created the Backstrap Weaver's Ergonomic Bench to help indigenous women artisans increase their earning potential through enhanced productivity and improved textile quality, while preventing cumulative damage to their bodies. This technology is revolutionary in its positive economic benefit to women who depend on the centuries-old tradition of backstrap weaving for their livelihood. It allows them to produce more with less effort, in less time, and with higher quality, while preserving their indigenous weaving culture.
Problem Addressed:
The traditional method of weaving with the backstrap loom is very hard on the weaver's body. She kneels on the ground, straps the loom around her hips, and rocks back and forth to adjust the tension on the cloth while she weaves. Daily life is so challenging that few women stop to think about how they feel. Despite the women's stoic nature, when pressed, they reveal that their knees, arms, backs and necks hurt, their legs and feet go numb, and huge calluses develop on their ankles from rubbing against the ground while they weave. These symptoms limit weaving tolerance to sometimes less than half an hour. This chronic, debilitating injury to the body has serious implications for women who depend upon physical work for their survival.
Technology Solution:
The Backstrap Weaver's Ergonomic Bench provides a viable alternative to the traditional kneeling posture. It consists of a bench that rocks with the rhythm of the weaver's body and an interlocking footrest that provides stability and leverage. Three aspects that make this ergonomic technology both new and innovative are: its design that facilitates the dynamic process of backstrap loom weaving; its bench and footrest that can be individually adjusted to fit the weaver's body; and its ability to be reproduced and adapted to locally-available low-cost materials. As a result, production is enhanced; pain, numbness, and fatigue are no longer limiting factors; and the quality of their textiles is improved, thus empowering their communities to be self-reliant and self-sustaining.
