Empowerment initiative for women

EMUSENI Sewing Group based at the Queensburgh Methodist Church in Northdene is a local women’s initiative benefitting from the DA’s women’s wing.

The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) seeks and addresses core issues affecting women, such as rape, domestic violence, maintenance problems, parenting, as well as striving to empower women economically.

The political party further identifies issues of concern to women in various areas and recently reached out to the local women’s sewing group. The group responsible for women empowerment was started 30 years ago, and equips them with sewing skills with the aid of volunteers. This, in turn, enables the women to clothe themselves and their families with some finding employment in the clothing manufacturing industry. “This is just one of the initiatives that DAWN supports, as these ladies are being empowered to better their lives and the lives of their families. They, in turn, can pass on the skills learnt to others in their community,” said the DA’s KZN interim leader, Shehana Gaibie, who is also the DA’s KZN Deputy Provincial Chair.

On Saturday, 17 October, DAWN’s Central Durban Constituency and Ward 63 Queensburgh representative, Lizelle Bright, visited Emuseni Sewing Group and saw first-hand the work done by these women. She handed over a generous fabric donation from DAWN KZN along with info packs containing brochures on what to do regarding woman and child abuse, safety tips for women, as well as the DA Vision 2029 brochures. Small edible gifts were included. Bright said DAWN will continue striving towards lightening the load of South African women.

Co-ordinator at Emuseni, Dawn Jackson, said the fabric donated will help further improve the skills of their students. “We are grateful for the ‘mountain’ of fabric donated to our school. This will be used by our students in the future and as their sewing skills improve, will go a long way to help them provide a better life for themselves,” she said.