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Sewing A New Pattern For Employment
Johannesburg, South Africa - A year has quickly passed since Operation Blessing and Nehemiah Partners sent 250 sewing machines to 15 poor South African townships. Phase 2 of this micro-enterprise sewing project is now in full swing in 19 locations from Johannesburg down to Cape Town and across to Durban. In partnership with Dave and Andrea Blow of Sew A Seed Ministries, OBI has helped approximately 150 men and women learn the marketable skill of being a seamstress and sewing machine servicing. See what our team had to say about May's evaluation trip!
The sun blazes over Pastor Johannes' small church building in Soweto. Infrequent breezes serve as air conditioning in the makeshift factory and sanctuary as nine women sit on white plastic chairs in front of clicking sewing machines each day. They are grateful for this opportunity to provide for their families. A couple of toddlers play at their feet among the scraps of material. When an OBI stuffed bear was recently placed into their hands, their eyes filled with excitement.
As senior seamstress, Maria has been a part of the project for two years. Her fingers fly as she makes at least five school uniform shirts and four pairs of pants each day. "When I started...I didn't know what the sewing machine was or how it worked. Now...my skills are better and I can make school uniforms, children's garments and placemats," she stated. "We are so blessed to have the machines and training. Thank you."
Joberton sits an hour away from Soweto. Pastor Canny and his wife Lesego have been through a grievous year having buried 10% of their 300-member church due to AIDS. With strength in their hearts, they encourage the sewing project participants in their work as they make tote bags and aprons to sell door to door as well as at flea markets. When OBI's team arrived American volunteers Dave and Andrea Blow were hard at work training them. This being a 6-month trip to South Africa, the Blows welcomed the help of Jeannie and teen daughter Nichole, both from, Minnesota for two months. Since a child, Jeannie had dreamt of going to Africa and assisting in some way.
After seeing the progress and 79% retention of eight site’s participants, as well as significant expansion into several townships, Regional Manager Kreg Vaughne' commented, "I was pleasantly surprised at the progress most of the sites had made in one short year. Several surpassed my expectations and will serve as an inspiration to those in need of direction." He was looking to see who was ready to move on to Phase 3...self-sufficiency.
The township of Diepsloot has seen 24 people go through the program and 75% now have gone on to paid jobs! In addition reading glasses were given to those in need at all sites this last year to increase learning and productivity.
"This trip gave me first-hand awareness of how OBI gives people the opportunity to excel by way of training and encouragement," relayed Programs and Projects Manager Mike Kowalski. "What impressed me is that the South Africans were looking for ways to improve themselves."
Operation Blessing is looking to replicate this micro-enterprise model in other locations around the world. However, we can't do it without your support.
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