Design26 Foundation is rallying the troops to raise funds for a community skills training centre, set to empower young women in Mitchell’s Plain to take charge of their futures.
Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa (21 May, 2023) — Suraya Williams, founder of the Design26 Foundation is on a mission to build a stronger community of women and their futures, brick by brick.
After getting permission to purchase what was government-owned land earlier this year, Williams and her team began the next phase of their dream, to rebuild Mitchell’s Plain for women.
The foundation recently launched the ‘buy a brick’ campaign that’s set on buying the land and building a community sewing skills centre at Harmony Village, Mitchell’s Plain where young women can grow and become financially self-sufficient; the same goals Design26 was founded on.
Williams, who is 46 and from Mitchell’s Plain herself, rediscovered her gift and passion for sewing and design after her mother’s passing on her birthday. In 2018, she founded the Design26 Foundation to provide skills, work opportunities, and a positive outlook to young women in the community, changing lives one thread at a time.
“The lack of job opportunities and the prevalence of drugs, alcohol, and abuse can make it difficult for young women to see a positive future,” Williams said.
“The Design26 Foundation aims to break this cycle by providing training and employment opportunities to young women in our community.”
Suraya adds that youth unemployment in South Africa sitting at 43.4%, which is why she and her team believe that providing training and employment opportunities is crucial to giving young women the tools they need for success.
The foundation’s dream is to raise R20 million overall to develop the Hope Community Skills Centre and Manufacturing Plant in Mitchell’s Plain, where the funds will be used to purchase land from the City of Cape Town and used to construct a building that will house the centre and manufacturing plant. The centre will have classrooms, training facilities, and equipment for sewing and design.
To achieve their objective, Williams and the Design26 Foundation are appealing to South Africans to collaborate with them in creating a better future for the youth of South Africa, especially women.
One way to contribute is by donating a brick for R100 or by committing to a monthly contribution through BackaBuddy, where their goal is R100 000.
You can learn more about Design26 here, and look out for their BackaBuddy campaign here!
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