Women in Alexandra Township are now able to sew their way to success thanks to a sewing and upskilling programme run by Rays of Hope!
Alexandra, South Africa (30 October 2024) — Women in Alex are sewing their way to success and better lives thanks to an empowering sewing programme run by Rays of Hope!
From Gogos raising their grandchildren on pension money to single mothers working hard to make ends meet and keep the lights on at home; the women of Alexandra Township face many challenges on tight budgets.
But the sewing programme is proving to lighten the load with each thread while fostering a sense of confidence in business.
“The sewing programme has been life-changing for me and other ladies,” says Jeniva Makola, a graduate of the programme who now has a serious passion for dressmaking.
“It has empowered us with valuable skills and the confidence to start our own businesses. I am so grateful for the support and opportunities Rays of Hope has provided through this programme.”
The programme is run in Alex and supported by STADIO School of Fashion. It gives women a five-month opportunity to learn practical skills, from pattern-making to stitching and garment-making. In addition to these hands-on skills, business-centric teachings hope to help participants start their own entrepreneurial journeys.
Jeniva explains that the programme has inspired her to pay the opportunity forward.
“I was tutoring English classes as a volunteer at Rays of Hope and noticed that one of the children was struggling in class…I found out that the child’s father had passed on, and he was the family’s breadwinner. They had been living without electricity and were really struggling, but in speaking more with the child’s mother, Thabisa, I learned that she tried to earn a living by sewing by hand.”
Thabisa was encouraged to join the programme, and to no one’s surprise, she excelled and even innovated.
Thabisa pitched a traditional Xhosa-style peplum skirt designed to help postpartum moms feel more confident in their new bodies. This design and presentation earned her first place in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ inspired competition led by the programme which secured her essential funds to start her own venture!
Thabisa’s story is a marker that reminds us that upliftment begets upliftment.
“Not only does the sewing programme help women build skills that can help them start their own businesses, but they also have the opportunity to lean on one another in their shared struggles as mothers, wives and female figures in the community,” shares Charmaine Seloma of Rays of Hope.
Charmaine adds that Rays of Hope intends to accommodate more participants for the 2025 run.