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The Hands of Dorcas Tailoring Training project began in 2016 under the trees at our New Hope Primary School. It is now based in a room at our New Hope Academy Secondary School.
The women taking part learn pattern cutting, hand sewing and sewing with treadle machines. As part of the training, the students help to make school uniforms for our New Hope Primary School and New Hope Academy pupils, as well as bags to be filled with gifts for the ‘Virtual Shoebox’ project.
A lot of the trainees have lived through very difficult circumstances, including extreme poverty, early arranged marriages, widowhood and abuse. Many are from families who couldn’t afford for them to finish school, some ended up on the streets. As well as gaining skills, the women are gaining hope, confidence and dignity, finding great support from each other and from the New Hope Church family.
Fifteen women graduated from the Hands of Dorcas project at the most recent graduation ceremony, which was an event filled with lots of joy, praise and dancing! The graduates each received their diplomas, their own sewing machine and a small amount of money towards fabric for starting their own businesses.
Fatima (receiving her certificate, below) says “I want to tell God thank you, the life I was living before the training and the life I live now are two different things.”
When the new group of trainees began the course, Jartu, who is one of the graduates, became their trainer, she is pictured above right demonstrating pattern cutting. Jartu became a Christian whilst she was training, she is keen to encourage other women to join the project and to gain skills to support themselves.
The rest of the graduates are now working at home or in tailoring workshops. Mariama Kamara is pictured left at the tailor’s shop where she now works, using her sewing machine, she is able to support her little daughter with her earnings.
Kadiatu (in blue and red dress), is now working as an apprentice in Mrs Kady’s tailor’s shop, which specialises in wedding and party dresses. Kadiatu says “I enjoyed the graduation and I am enjoying the work now. My sewing machine is working well and I pray my skills will improve more and more.”
We thank God for the tailoring project, for the joy of the graduation ceremony and for the difference it is making in the lives of the graduates, for increased income, dignity and hope. We pray that God will help the graduates and trainees to trust in Him and His good provision for them.
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