By NICOLE VALICEK
A SEWING project that started with the purchase of fabric has helped to change the lives of women in a poverty stricken African community.
The Bwindi Sewing Project started when Altona resident Tricia Salau travelled to the village of Bwindi in Uganda, East Africa three years ago. Tricia purchased some African fabric and told the buyer she would use it to make quilts.
The Bwindi villager asked Tricia to send photos of the finished products and from these humble beginnings the start of the project was born.
In August 2012 three women from the Louis Joel Centre in Altona including Jill Bilston, Kim Reilly and Ms Salau travelled to Bwindi to establish the project and worked with the women from the Ride 4 A Woman co-operative.
“Ride 4 Woman has a membership of 300 of which 100 are widows, 150 are HIV positive and the remaining 50 are living in extreme poverty,” Ms Salau said.
The women from the centre raised the necessary funds to buy equipment including treadle sewing machines, fabric and general sewing equipment.
“Most of the woman had never sewn so we had to start from scratch … when we got back (last year) the skills had improved so much that their sewing was incredible,” she said.
Ms Salau said the project has provided income for the women of Bwindi to provide food for their family and send their children to school.
The women have learnt to make a variety of quality clothing and items which are being sold at The Ride 4 Woman shop, the community centre and lodges.
“The wage is $2.50 a day which doesn’t sound much but there it is so they can buy food and educate their kids. That’s allowing them to do that.”
In July all three ladies will return to Uganda to continue with the program.
This year they want to raise funds to build a volunteer/women’s refuge accommodation and new sewing equipment.
On Tuesday 25 February the Louis Joel Arts And Community Centre is hosting an afternoon tea to raise money for the Sewing Project. The function will cost $5 per person and starts from 2pm at Sargood St, Altona.
