Tackling plight of unemployment one stitch at a time
A group of women from Windmill Park are actively involved in a project to learn basic sewing skills to empower themselves.
The group is known as Bafazi Siyanqoba.
Ottria Molotsi, who has opened her house free of charge to teach these women sewing, said the main aim of the project is to reduce unemployment.
“I want to see these women becoming entrepreneurs, enabling them to sew clothes and sell them to generate income for themselves.”
“This project teaches women basic skills of sewing, knitting, drawing patterns for skirts and shirts and how to use sewing machines.
“Since they started they have designed peg bags, skirts and shirts for themselves.”
Molotsi said the lack of resources has been the biggest challenge they face in their project.
“When it comes to buying material, for the items we want to design, it becomes a challenge because these women are not working, so raising the money towards buying the material becomes a problem.
“We try to contribute small amount of money towards the sewing materials needed but it is not enough,” Molotsi said.
A local organisation in Boksburg, Christetelike Maatskaplike Raad, has loaned these women three sewing machines to make the flow of the project smoother.
The organisation has also donated soup for the group.
Paulinah Ngubeni, who is 26 years old, is the youngest in the group.
“We are privileged to have projects like these in our community to better the lives of people as it will help us generate income,” said Ngubeni.
“What is exciting is that the project caters for everyone, allowing us young people to learn new things.”
Anyone who would like to donate towards the project may contact Ottria Molotsi on 071 321 6728.
