Owesifazane Onethemba programme on a mission to sew hope
All training is done on site at the church and also includes an Alpha Course and wholeness programme to help the women in their life outside of the course and deepen their faith.
From seamstress training to self-employment, the Owesifazane Onethemba programme is a pipeline for hope.
Run annually since 2019, the programme sees 25 women from across KwaDukuza selected for training in fashion design at the Grace Family Church, Ballito Campus.
It was founded by Colleen Blew and Jenny Pringle and has grown to a point where there is a substantial waitlist of applicants each year.
The initial group of 25 get four months of beginner training in pattern making, sewing and business coaching, after which 12 are selected for a further four months of advanced training.
All training is done on site at the church and also includes an Alpha Course and wholeness programme to help the women in their life outside of the course and deepen their faith.
The course is sponsored by Grace Aid, which is the skills development wing of Grace Church.
This year’s finalists were Kwizera van der Merwe, Kayise Ngubane, Gloria Mayephu, Ketai Matamba, Mantoh Zunga, Phindile Nxumalo, Sthulile Nyosana, Thobile Shoba, Angel Cele, Jabu Masinga, Vuyiseka Xalisile-Ndzonya and Siphokhule Khuzwayo.
They were trained by Ningi Maphumulo, Shelley Bain, Corney Badenhorst, Teresa Burton, Nelisiwe Mthembu, Pringle and Blew, while Athi Koyana ran the Alpha Course.
The culmination of eight months of hard work saw the 12 finalists model their own creations at a fashion show at the church on Saturday.
Beautiful, bold colours and excellent craftsmanship was on show as the women beamed their way up the runway, proud of how far they had come.
The fashion show also acted as a fundraiser with a view to set up a second classroom at the church to help accommodate further growth.
“Another classroom would not only allow us to take on more people but also to be more professional,” said Blew.
Many of the past participants of Owesifazane Onethemba, which means women of hope, have gone on to gainful employment, some of whom have started their own labels.
Melville’s Nondumiso Mapalala completed the first course in 2019 and has since opened Nolanga Exquisite Dzigns, where she works full time.
“I came into the course with no sewing skills at all and can now run my own business. They took me back as a trainer but I had to leave halfway through this year when I got too busy,” she said.
“When I started I had no idea where I was going to get money from, and now I can put food on the table. It’s an amazing programme.”
Visit Owesifazane Onethemba on Facebook to find out more.
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