The Tailoring Program

A major component that was lacking in the community when we first started our research was the ability for residents to earn an income.  There were many factors that contributed to this situation, but one of the easiest to resolve was to provide basic skills training so people could learn a skill and create their own jobs.  Since the village is remote and does not have access to traditional trades that are in towns and cities, we worked with residents to figure out what skills would be helpful to learn in order to build their businesses successfully.

Sewing is a skill that most could learn and apply to multiple types of businesses, and the Tailoring Program was launched in order to supply the village with sewing machines and teach interested residents how to create their own businesses by sewing various items to sell or trade.

Deborah

Deborah is one of many young women who came to our program. Isaac wanted to share her story with you.

Deborah, now 28 years fell victim and dropped out of school at the age of 14 years when she was persuaded into marriage on a promise of a life and future far better than she was living by a deceitful man who kept her parents from knowing her whereabouts for 12 years.

After she produced three children, the husband whom she was 100% dependent on abandoned her.  She went through burdensome life of suffering, became homeless and ate from garbage on streets for 8 months.

At almost the end of her life, the only woman she had ever shared her story with  offered assistance and solicited transport fees from well wishers to get her back to her parents’ home.  She connected with our program where we offered socio-psychological support until she became stable and we enrolled her for different skills training.

She completed her first training in business skills; soon she will be completing her second training in tailoring and embroidery.  These skills have brought back a lot of hope in her life. She dreams to start up her own tailoring shop so she can become financially independent to take care of her three children.

Stories similar to that of Deborah motivate us to empower girls not to fall victim and to restore hope in the lives of those who are already victims.