HACT helps women sew their dreams

THIRTY nine women graduated from the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust’s Dressmaking School, an event which earmarked the launch of its month of women empowerment.

The school’s aim is to help provide opportunities for disadvantaged women. The graduates, together with their families and friends, enjoyed a morning of song and dance at Bambanani Hall in KwaNyuswa to celebrate their achievements.

“Many of the graduates had not experienced formal education at this level before, and most face the challenges of poverty and providing for their families,” said Laurel Oettlé, the marketing and fundraising manager at HACT.

The dressmaking course teaches a range of skills, which include hand and machine sewing. The women are taught how make school uniforms, skirts and shirts, pinafores, children’s dresses, bed linen, curtains and a range of specialist items such as graduation gowns.

“Each woman who graduates represents a group of women eager to learn dressmaking skills in order to make a living,” said Laurel. Each of the students who graduated on the day were also given a sewing machine, supplied by HACT, to teach dressmaking to other women in their communities.

“I learnt so much from the course,” said Phumzile, one of the graduates and a mother of two.  I did the course because I want to earn an income and to have a skill to help my family out of poverty. I want to pass my skills onto others, and one day, to my children.

“Thank you so much for giving us the sewing machines to use and allowing us to do this course. I feel so happy. It is a wonderful day!”

One of the aims of the course is to raise the self-esteem of the women who take part, helps them form bonds with their classmates and share ideas on how to use their skills to earn an income or to start a business.

“This month is women’s empowerment month, and we congratulate these women who have worked so hard. I would like to encourage all women to stand up like these women and look for these types of opportunities. We thank HACT for supporting such a great project,” said guest of honour, Busi Nxumalo, the First Lady of KwaZulu-Natal.

“We are very proud of each and every one who took part in the course, and today we are seeing the fruits of their labour,” said Cwengi Myeni, HACT Granny Support Group manager.

“The high quality of their work is very apparent from the beautiful graduation outfits the ladies are wearing. This shows they can compete with the very best.”

The course trainer, Ntombenhle Sithole, from KwaNyusa was said to be a role model for the new graduates. She is the main provider for her family as she worked hard to become a dressmaker, used those skills to raise a large enough income to give her children an education, one of whom is currently studying at university. She is now giving back by passing her skills to others so that they can do the same.

Laurel thanked the eThekwini Municipality for providing the catering for the event, which was attended by more than 200 people.