Making a difference one stitch at a time
Mercy Maphosa, who is unemployed, makes an income for herself by selling the pieces she makes to people at her church
THE Tsohang Basadi sewing project has grown over the years and now has successfully groomed a few women to become entrepreneurs.
The Birchleigh Dutch Reformed Church has for many years been operating a small community project in the form of teaching domestic workers and other unemployed women in the area, and some from Tembisa, how to sew.
The women receive training on dressmaking with the help of church member Gwen Kruger and other volunteers from the church.
They call themselves Tsohang Basadi, which translates to “Women, Awaken” and the initiative currently trains about 20 women.
The programme includes learning all the basics of how to use a sewing machine and how to produce different items such as clothes and bedding.
Once the women have been equipped with these skills, they are able to make their own clothes to either wear or sell to create income for themselves, which is one of the key outcomes of the project.
“The main purpose of running this project is so that these women have an opportunity to earn a living for themselves by becoming entrepreneurs. Gwen (Kruger) and the team give them the skills, then we give them a free second-hand sewing machine as a head start, then they are well on their way to becoming entrepreneurs,” Dr Stefan Hough explained.
Hough is a retired electrical engineer who volunteers his time by helping repair the sewing machines for the women.
This initiative has indeed been a great help for many of these women, who are mostly unemployed.
See more photographs here
Mercy Maphosa (22), who is unemployed, is using the pieces she makes to sell to the people at her church in Birch Acres and to earn an income.
For these women, being able to earn money for themselves is not the only wonderful gift they have received, but also the invaluable skill of sewing, which will last them a lifetime.
A skill that would have otherwise cost them thousands of Rands to acquire at private training colleges.
For Nelisiwe Magubane, a 24-year-old unemployed youth from Tembisa, this opportunity will be the answer to her prayers as she has not been able to find work.
“When I first started here about a month ago, I did not know anything about sewing, but now I have made progress by learning how to make a skirt, blanket and even a cushion cover that I now use at home,” Magubane said with a smile.
“As soon as I perfect my skills, I will start making things I can sell to generate an income for myself.”
The project is open to anyone who would like to learn the skill of dressmaking and either use it as a business for themselves or as a hobby.
The project is still in need of more second-hand manual or electric sewing machines, as well as material, clothes, zips, lace, elastics and anything else that is used for dressmaking.
If anyone would like to make a donation contact Kruger on 072-439-3975/011-972-5029 or Hough on 011-972-1518.
