In November 2010, Suzanne Lind visited the sewing project of the Bondeko Mennonite Church, Kinshasa, DR Congo. Older women teach younger women, especially teen mothers, to sew. Since tailoring is a major part of Congolese culture, this gives these women a marketable skill.
The pictures speak for themselves:
BOMEN Sewing and Training Center and Workshop is a project of the Bondeko Mennonite Church, a congregation of the CMCo (Congo Mennonite Church) located in Masina, Kinshassa, in Congo. They have recently begun this project to train women heads of household, teenage mothers, and unemployed young women in sewing, dress making and tailoring. To date only a small number have been part of the program because only two privately owned sewing machines are available.
BOMEN is asking CCC of Michiana Friends of Congo to help expand the center by providing a grant for help buy additional sewing machines, tables and chairs, supplies, and rent for a larger building for the center. Local contributions will cover personnel costs.
The project will train 100 women in basic sewing skills over an eighteen month period. It will provide follow-up to assist the trainees to find employment, and will also include a production workshop to help young women get started in their careers.
CCC hopes to raise $5000 for this project by July 2011. One sewing machine costs $75, purchased in Congo.
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