Women's Sewing Project in Kakuma Refugee Camp

In 2019, African Great Lakes Peace Trust funded TCSC  to train 24 refugee women from South Sudan, Congo, Somalia and Burundi who carried traumatic events with them that have destroyed the sustaining bonds between individual and communities. In the first phase, we managed to deal with the women’s trauma both when they became refugees and in the refugee camp itself. They have participated in a Healing and Rebuilding Our Community 3-day basic workshop. This workshop help develop social cohesion among the women of various nationalities. This was followed by a three-day Alternative to Violence workshop in order for the women to learn out do resolve conflicts nonviolently. The second phase involved training in micro entrepreneurship we did manage to train 24 women and the sewing project was born.

Picture 2: Pastor from Friends church Turkana Friends Mission delivers 10 sewing machines to Kakuma refugee camp on behalf of Transforming Community for Social Change (TCSC)

The third phase was delayed by the Covid 19 pandemic. Kakuma being a confined community the government imposed curfew and further movement restrictions which affected people living in the camp. It is traumatizing to not be able to venture into public spaces without protective gear like mask and sanitizers. Even though there are attempts from some fellow refugees to make and provide free mask from locally made garments, it has proven to be hard due to the lockdown because a lot of the materials needed were not available to local tailors who usually purchase them from cities in Kenya. People were understandably worried about their lives and the safety of their neighbors when out in public or when queuing for food and water.

The month of August 2020 we manage to buy 10 sewing machines and transported to Kakuma Refugee camp a pastor from Turkana Friends mission helped us to deliver the machines.

Picture 3: The first class has successfully started and by December all the 24 women would have gain the basic skills on tailoring.

This month we have launched three one-month training in tailoring with 10 participants, 5 from Kalobeyey settlement and 5 from Kakuma 2 per session. After a three month of training, each group of three women from each camp will be given a Singer Sewing Machine which will remain the property of Kakuma Friends Church. After training we plan for the women to become  organized into a workers’ cooperative society which can help with purchasing materials and other necessary items and obtain contracts such as sewing school uniforms.

Picture 4. The excitement of the first woman on the left using the machine without fixing the treadle belt shows how she is very interested to lean outside a tattered temporal canvass structure in the camp

The economic potential of the camp has not been fully utilized and the host community, which is one of the most marginalized in Kenya, feels that it has not benefited much from the presence of refugees. Sometimes conflicts escalate, leading to injuries and even deaths on both sides for many refugees. Lack of a steady income makes it difficult to buy firewood or charcoal to fill the gap, and so they often gather firewood themselves from the bushes around the camp. This puts them in conflict with the Turkana. By the end of December we hope to promote social cohesion among women of the various nationalities in the refugee camp, promote economic empowerment among the 24 women who are getting basic training in sewing and to develop women’s run Tailoring Cooperative.

 “I have got a new machine, am excited but am a bit nervous. My legs are shaking; my hands want to try. Thanks to our donors who have  helped this sewing  project. After the training I will focus on making and repairing clothes for refugee children and host community.” Participant.

 “We are projecting by December the 24 women will have been trained and ready to implement the project on their own. I am impressed by the excitement and the commitment of the women." Sewing Trainer.