Sewing Project for Physically Disabled Girls

Zimbabwe, € 2.650,-

We are very proud of what we have achieved in this programme this year. The deaf girls made some beautiful bags , mats and cushion covers which were entered in a national craft fare - we came away with 1st prize! At a recent Christmas fare they sold $400 worth of bags and cushion covers.

KGVI is a centre and school for physically disabled students from all over Zimbabwe. We provide an academic education, skills training, independent living, social support and an arts programme to students from the age of 3 to 20 years.

The centre supports 115 borders living in our independent living houses. The school has an enrolment of 280 children; most of them are physically disabled but most are also facing social problems. Our goal is to teach our students to be as independent as possible both in their lives but also for the future. If we can give them some practical skills they can start their own projects and are not reliant on the ever diminishing number of jobs available in Zimbabwe. For 2010 we are looking to increase the vocational subjects on offer to our students.

School Support Project – Sewing
We have been teaching Fashion & Fabric for some years and this is a very popular subject with most of our girls, both the physically disabled and the deaf. Not only do the girls sit for this subject at O level but they also enter the annual Trade Fair exhibition in Bulawayo where their goods always win prizes. We have a very keen teacher who teaches the girls a wide variety of skills and they produce items such as clothes, bags, cushions, covers and other fancy goods. They also carry out basic repairs on the boarders clothes and linen which is an added advantage.
We are now looking to expand this subject and to offer it as a vocational training project for selected girls. We are hoping to set up a small sewing project making soft furnishings and children's dresses. We would start the project by decorating one of the staff houses and using this as an advertisement for the items the girls can sew. We would also look into making school uniforms for KGVI students. The girls will receive training in 2010, including training in business management and then when they leave school they will have a skill they can develop at home. Some of them would continue to work with the project at KGVI. Money made from the sale of articles will be used to buy more materials and to pay any girls working on the project.
Sadly we are now reduced to 1 working sewing machine and with our increased numbers this has to stretch round a class of 15 or more. Someone in Bulawayo is closing a sewing business and is selling up 7 sewing machines and various other bits and pieces. She is offering us the whole lot for US$ 4,000 which is a good price. This offer has come at an ideal time for us but we do not have the funds readily available. We would also need some start up materials, particularly curtaining which is slightly more expensive than average cotton. Also included in the project is a security screen door so that the equipment will be safe in the classroom.
If we could get this project underway we would really be able to help our girls to learn a skill which will always be of use to them. It is so difficult for anyone to find a job in Zimbabwe today and for a disabled person it is almost impossible. This project will give our girls the chance to be involved in a small money making venture which will give them some security in the future.

Budget
7 sewing machines, cutting tables, cupboards & 2 steam irons.
These are all being sold second hand for € 2650 total

TOTAL € 2.650

FONDATION LES PAQUERETTES DONATED € 1500 TO THIS PROJECT