Daveyton Sewing Project going strong
The Anns recently visited the project and are proud of what it has achieved over the past 13 years.
What started as a dream for Cecelia Matthews was turned into a reality thanks to the Benoni Aurora Rotary Anns.
Her Sewing Project legacy continues to be a success over 10 years later.
“In 2007/8 Cecelia, who was running our soup kitchen at St Alban’s Anglican Church in Daveyton, approached me about getting a container to house what she called the Sewing Project,” said Gwyn Westcott, Sewing Project coordinator.
“The reason for this was to teach interested women to sew clothes for themselves and sell items, thereby helping them to help themselves.
“On behalf of the Benoni Aurora Rotary Anns, we approached our club to provide us with a large container.
“This was financed by Rotary districts 5890, 5810 USA and Benoni Aurora District 9300.
“It was electrified, ventilation fans put in the roof and the container was painted by Cecelia’s husband, Ernest.
“Finally, we had it carpeted and asked Rotarians and friends for secondhand tables, cupboards and sewing machines.
“The Anglican Church in Wales provided us with a new industrial sewing machine, as well as an industrial overlocker.
“The Aurora Anns purchased some small items and the Sewing Project was complete.”
In the meanwhile, they trained some of the interested women, and Cecelia and Sheila Mlangni were then able to assist running the project and training other women.
“We had several non-electric hand sewing machines to start the learners off with and some secondhand domestic electric machines and finally the new industrial machines when the learners were fully trained,” Gwyn explained.
“They learnt to measure themselves and make their own patterns. The Anns assisted by collecting pieces of material (often through adverts in the City Times) for the learners to use as they train.
“The learners also took on some commercial sewing (such as making gowns for doctors’ rooms) to help finance the project.
“When Sheila died in 2015, the container was closed for three years, as close supervision is required to protect the sewing machines.”
But the project was revived when a trained professional tailor, Jimmy Matsho, approached the Anns in 2018.
“He had received two years of training at St Anthony’s Training Centre in Reiger Park, Boksburg.
“He was already running a business making clothes and has a passion for teaching others.
“The Sewing Project is now a certificated course and the learners are charged a small amount to take the course.
“This money has helped to cover the cost of their materials. Jimmy is available for the two groups from Monday to Thursday and some learners on Saturday mornings.
“Their attendance has improved and he now has 12 learners attending a six-month course who he allows to continue in the project until they feel confident to work entirely at home on their own,” Gwyn said.
“They are now producing tailored and professional items. They have also learnt to make jewellery with beads to compliment the outfits.
“Jimmy has a plan going forward. Owing to the demand by the local people in Daveyton and the lack of space in the container, he is saving up to find larger premises for bigger classes. His timeline is approximately five to 10 years, when he hopes to have sufficient capital to grow this sewing school.”
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In this five- to 10-year plan, he hopes to achieve the following:
• Purchase new sewing machines.
• Open a small haberdashery for the people of Daveyton, as there is a great need for materials, cotton and more.
“The Aurora Anns have maintained their commitment to and involvement in this project over the years by funding the costs of maintaining the sewing machines and purchasing additional equipment for the container, such as a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit,” Gwyn said.
“We also provide the learners with pieces of material, for which Jimmy is extremely grateful.
“The success of this project, now run by Jimmy, is evident from its continuity over the past 13 years, and the sewing school is now providing garments of high quality.
“Jimmy’s passion for teaching is quite evident and the learners are motivated. It is also providing an employment opportunity for several ladies and men who might well otherwise have no source of income.
“A number of these learners have also been able to start up their own businesses as tailors.”
The Anns recently visited the project and are proud of its success.
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