Sponsor a Woman's Sewing Training in South Africa

Dear Supporters,

Having reached yet another quarter, we would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for all the support you have given over the past year. It is with your continued support and donations, that this program is such a success.

Your kindness and generosity have enabled us to continually strive for new ways to support women and girls from disadvantaged communities in South Africa, by teaching them new skills to develop and ignite positive change in not only their lives, within their families, but also within their community.

With your support we have been able to help women and girls in the community recognise the value of the work and skills they provide within their community and households. With your support we have been able to expand our impact in the community by developing new employability workshops, covering CV writing, interview skills and job searching. We have also been given the opportunity to enrol members of the community in our First Aid Course, where participants completed a 2-day course covering primary and secondary first aid skills and gain a certificate upon completion. The course is designed to pass on valuable skills to the community, which will be transferable in their daily lives and hopefully assist in gaining employment. This is a great certification for the women to add to their resume and is a very important skill to have, as access to immediate medical care can often be very difficult for some communities. Many of the women who participate in these courses are unemployed, but through the support you provide we can ensure that women participating in the courses receive full and effective participation in the movement for creating equal opportunities in all aspects of their lives.

Statistically 29.5% of women in South Africa are currently unemployed and earn up to 60% less than men. Our programs are aligned directly with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal number 5: Gender Equality, which is geared to making equip women with the skills necessary to take on leadership roles at all levels of their lives, whether it be in general decision making, politics, the economy or their public affairs. The difference made by this project can be measured not only in the increasing number of community members signing up, but also in certificates earned each week, proud smiles, confidence, and thank-yous received.

Having access to learning these skills, is invaluable in helping women secure jobs where such skills are needed. This year so far up to 60 women have completed the course and are endeavouring to use the endorsed certification to gain employment.

All the computers and first aid resources we use to make these achievements possible have been donated or purchased through the Trust's support, and of course, yours. So, thank you for doing your part in helping us make a difference to these women’s lives with the use of technology, information, communication and skill development, to promote the empowerment of women.

In the future we hope that more women from the community will join our team to make the program as sustainable and impactful as possible

Thank you, on behalf of every single life you have impacted, no matter how big or small. Or as we say here in South Africa, ENKOSI!

GVI Gordons Bay,

Women's Empowerment