HACT’s gogos to create a brighter future

FORTY excited grandmothers graduated from the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust’s dress making course recently.

All of the graduates are members of HACT’s granny support groups programme which aims to support, empower and uplift grandmothers. The programme currently supports more than 2 000 grandmothers in 51 support groups across eight communities in the Valley of 1000 Hills.

Twenty of the gogos graduated from the six-month beginners sewing course and 20 gogos graduated from the six-month advanced sewing course. The sewing courses aim to give the gogos skills and knowledge that will enable them to sew clothing which they can sell to earn an income. This project was started in 2011. “Many of the women will go on to supply their communities with school uniforms, church uniforms, shirts and skirts. This is a huge leap forward for the gogos in the Valley and they see this as a huge benefit for them as they will be able to put bread on the table with what they have learnt,” said Phindiwe Mashiloane, the assistant manager for the granny support groups.

In addition to their graduation certificates, all 40 gogos received a graduation gift sponsored by The Ear Institute in Hillcrest.

“We are very proud of our gogos for their hard work and determination during the past year. By giving our gogos new skills, we are helping them to care for and support their children and grandchildren. Many of the previous graduates have done very well and are earning enough money to not only support their families but they can also purchase other things for around the home and their lives have completely changed,” said Phindiwe.