Women's Sewing Project in Kakuma Refugee Camp

This year the women sewing project was privileged to have visitor from African Greatlakes Peace Trust. The purpose of this visit was to make a follow-up to the sewing project to ascertain its impact in the lives of the beneficiary household and to fellowship with the women congregation in the camp.

We thank the department of refugee service (DRS) for allowing us to enter the refugee camp. The authorization was approved through a recommendation letter from The Director of Turkana Friends Mission  who are in charge of Kakuma Friends church.

During the visit, we had an opportunity to meet the leadership of the sewing school and students, despite the challenges of broken machines, limited school supplies, ballooning number of new students, tire and wear of sewing machines parts, unpaid teachers and dusty classroom. The school has tremendously trained tens of hundreds of students who have befitted from the program. Already new students have enrolled in this year class.

The school is looking forward to generate income through sewing new school unforms of different primary and secondary schools in camp starting this April. In our recommendation we are requesting you helps us spread the word about our work and continue to grow our community of supporters like you  to support the school with school supplies that include sewing machines spare parts, fabric for practices, needles and sewing threads, school uniform fabric, working table and supporting the two teachers.

             The Kakuma women refugee sewing project that was initiated 3years ago has for the first time allowed male students who would like to learn basic sewing skills enrolled in this year’s class, the move has come after men showed interests of joining the free classes, the volunteer teacher sighted reason of bringing in men as abroad move on inclusivity and empowering both genders. “Men are also very creative and innovative, we want to close the gap of previous challenges we have faced as women, when it comes to repair and servicing of our sewing machines, the new strength will play a key role in our project, we are hoping by the end of the training these men will be of great support”.

               For many years sewing in this context was perceived to be the work of women, we intent to break the barriers of male chauvinism. “We are joining men here and around the world to stamp out chauvinism, we are not ashamed by the stereotype created by perception that has classified and divided men and women when it comes to work, skills and responsibilities. As refugees we want to learn these skills so that we can support our families and nature our talent”

This year please remember to Donate to Transforming community for Social Change through GlobalGiving ORG#45981