The Sewing for Sarepta project of non-profit organisation, Helping on purpose to empower (HOPE) in partnership with the Sarepta Senior Secondary School is officially out of the blocks.
Nine Grade 10 and 11 learners from the school attended the first lesson presented by Wilhelmina Rhode in a classroom made available by the school on Saturday 6 August from 09:00 to 12:00.
For a start HOPE partnered with the school to use the premises.
Learners of the school are the first to benefit. Wayne Rhode, co-founder of HOPE, says “the classes will be extended to the community once we successfully rolled out this class”.
In July TygerBurger reported on HOPE’s Mandela Day aim to collect 18 sewing machines for this project that is about reviving some crucial skills and offered free of charge to participants.
The Rhodes say they are thankful for receiving a donation of 10 sewing machines from the United Reform Church (VGK) in Eerste River as well as four machines from community members.
The project will run for six weeks with classes every second Saturday.
HOPE covers all costs and provides a meal to class participants.
All welcome
Although the first participants are all girls, Rhode says it does not necessarily have to be – men would be welcome too.
She says longer term aims for HOPE include their own premises and extending skills training such as woodwork, electrical, welding and so on.
”We would like to expand.”
HOPE was founded in 2006 and mainly distributes food donations, to a database of organisations – “at least 18 in areas such as Kalkfontein, Kleinvlei, Happy Valley, Ravensmead and Parow’’, says Wilhelmina. They’ve been distributing donations from Pick n Pay and the Lions Club Brackenfell from 2006, and more recently also from SA Harvest and Ladles of Love.
The sewing project is “a new baby”. “We don’t just want to hand out, but teach people how to fish.
“That is what our name, Helping on purpose to empower, is all about,” Wilhelmina says.
She explains that’s also why they’ve added some structure to the sewing class – Wayne will start off with a 15-minute motivational talk, and HOPE’s vice-chair, John Pearce, will end off with another short “take home” message.
For the first lesson the focus was getting used to handling a needle, doing some basic stitches to put in a seam, or attach a button. “In our next class we will start using the machines.”
By the end of the course the hope is that the learners will be able to make their own outfit.
Wilhelmina says the worsening unemployment level post pandemic is part of the reason why they would like to expand the sewing classes to the community.
If you have a sewing machine that’s collecting dust it would be welcomed.
- Contact helpingonpurpose.org@yahoo.com or call 061 355 7110.
