Sisters Sewing for Themselves continues to make the community better
WENDYWOOD – The project aims to empower women from all ages and races to develop a new skill, network with others and train them on how to use the skill to generate money.
Communities of today tend to prioritise more on the development of the infrastructures rather than empowering its people.
Wendywood Clinic shifted its approach from infrastructure to people as they saw a trend of patients leaving the facility, feeling hopeless due to unemployment. Retired Wendywood resident Premi Roopanand presented an idea of running a sewing project to the clinic in hopes of empowering more women to acquire a new skill.
This is how one woman with a heart of gold came to a decision of helping her community reach greater heights with pins, fabrics and a pair of scissors.
Roopanand’s journey started at a time when she relocated from Durban to Kelvin in 2007. Months after embracing her new environment, she got sick to the point where she would visit the Wendywood Clinic regularly. “I got sick when I came here because I was inactive and lonely.
“I went to the clinic during that time and had a conversation with one of the doctors that was assisting me. She asked me what I was doing to keep active, I told her that I hardly do anything but I would love to start a sewing project. After I donated two of my sewing machines to the clinic, she went to the main office and put forward the idea of me starting the ‘Sisters Sewing for Themselves’ at the clinic.”
The clinic removed the carport to make way for the project. As stated by Roopanand, sewing machines, items and fabrics worth R50 000 were donated by the Gauteng Gambling Board which then led to the start of the project in 2008. The project aims to empower women from all ages and races to develop a new skill, network with others and train them on how to use the skill to generate money. Recently it has also opened doors for men who are in need.
Roopanand, who has been sewing since she was eight years old, stated that her greatest achievement while running her project was being able to see her students creating fantastic end products and becoming independent.
Sisters Sewing for Themselves opens its doors for the community next month. For further information, contact Roopanand on 072 750 0375.
