It was almost show time! Surrounded by colourful fabric, a group of women was busy preparing for the event. After several months of studying sewing at an Operation Blessing sponsored micro enterprise project, these students were anxious to see if strangers would like their original designs. In Mali, opportunities like this don’t normally exist. In fact, it was only several months before that these women had no idea how they were going to financially survive.

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. Sixty-four percent of its 11.9 million people live beneath the poverty level. Desert and semi desert terrain covers 65% of the land. Most Malians try to farm or fish in the few areas where this is possible. Under these conditions, it is not a surprise that they are heavily dependent on foreign aid.

Our students were no strangers to poverty. Due to different circumstances, all of these women were single and could not find stable sources of income. Providing practical life skills has helped them to help themselves out of their poverty and has also given them a renewed sense of self worth.

After the first academic year was over, we celebrated by holding a 2-day fashion show in Bamako, Mali. The format was very similar to a Western fashion show. There was a fashion runway and music. But the attire was very different. All of the garments had been made from traditional and colourful local material. Students either modelled their own clothes or got children to show the appropriate fashions. One student even created a wedding dress with dreams of becoming successful in that market.

After each show finished, impressed spectators rushed up to buy many of the pieces! With this successful experience under their belts, the women returned to the center ready to start advanced training. A new class of first-year students also began last fall. As the training continues, the women of Mali will become self-sufficient, share their knowledge with others, and live prosperous lives filled with possibilities!

Numerous impoverished individuals and communities around the world want to help themselves but don’t have the resources or knowledge to begin.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

This microenterprise venture is one of many Operation Blessing projects touching lives around the world. You can be a part of improving the quality of life for impoverished communities by supporting these and other life-changing programs.

 

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