Submitted by Kenyan CTC Staff on Mon, 2011-07-11 16:09
Recently, representatives from the American Sewing Guild (ASG) visited Maai-Mahiu for two weeks to teach new sewing skills to women. During a three-day workshop, over 30 women from the community learned different techniques and patterns. Many women who had never sewn before went home with items that they had personally made. The workshop covered both machine and handmade items. They began with pillowcases and moved on to cosmetic bags, dresses, make-up bags, table liners, a many other items used in daily life.
To top off the workshop, the women were taught how to make re-usable sanitary pads. Government statistics state that 800,000 girls in Kenya miss school for a week every month due to lack of sanitary pads. As a result of this, girls fall behind in school and have a difficult time catching up. The mums expressed great appreciation for this particular skill and promised to share the knowledge with others who would benefit from the pads.
On the last day of the workshop, the room was pulsing with energy and great joy. The mums thanked the ASG Team for empowering them by sharing a skill which could help them become more independent. The ASG Team also went to a school and taught over 30 girls how to make the re-usable sanitary pads.
It is amazing how small acts can make such a great difference. With additional financial investment, our Malaika mums could begin to make these pads and distribute them through schools to girls who cannot afford to pay for them.
Thank you,
Jeremiah Kuria, Kenya Director
