Stitching dignity back into lives in Northcliff
At a Northcliff initiative, wool, sewing machines, and human connection are helping people experiencing homelessness rediscover dignity and purpose.
On Tuesday mornings, the sound of sewing machines and the chatter of volunteers fills Tshepo Community Development Initiative in Northcliff.
These weekly gatherings are about much more than fabric and wool, however; they are about dignity, belonging, and second chances.
Read more: Homeless Northcliff man goes from the streets to a sewing machine
General manager Alet Geldenhuys said the training sessions, which began in January, are designed to equip people experiencing homelessness with practical skills that can help them support themselves and their families. “The ultimate idea is that people walk away with a skill.
If they can mend clothes, or eventually start a small business, they have something nobody can take away from them.”
Volunteer Lisa Mansa, who travels from Dainfern to share her knowledge, said the programme initially focused on knitting and crochet.
By Easter, participants had transformed their crocheted squares into handmade Easter bunnies, complete with chocolate eggs made by Tshepo’s men, which were distributed to elderly residents in the community. “It gives me immense pleasure to give back. These skills don’t necessarily improve lives immediately, but they make people productive and valuable within their own communities.”
Also read: Threads of hope, heritage, and ambition for Clover Mama sewing student
The group has since introduced looming, with participants producing beanies for children and adults alike. Some can complete a beanie in just two hours. Now, with 11 donated sewing machines and boxes of donated material and stuffing, participants are learning basic sewing.
Plans are already underway to make cushions and pillows, while discarded knitted and crocheted squares will be joined together to create blankets for winter. The items can be sold or exchanged for vouchers through Tshepo’s support system.
Beyond the practical skills, Geldenhuys believes the relationships formed around the tables are just as important. “At the end of the day, we’re all human. We all need community and a sense of belonging.”
She encouraged residents to donate materials or volunteer their time. “If you talk about ‘the homeless’, you’re talking about people you don’t know, but when you know someone as Sipho or Vincent, they become a person. That changes everything.”
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