The fabric of change
One of the important skills training programs at Samunnat is the sewing program. Janice Laurent first travelled from Australia to help with this training in 2018. She has just completed her fifth visit. In between she runs regular training over Zoom. Many graduates of this program have gone back to their villages and started their own businesses, taking their skills with them (as hoped!). There are always new women needing training. Janice’s reflections, below, show so much about what is needed to make a difference.
Janice writes…
Plans and tears
As usual my trip to Birtamod did not completely go to plan…it never does! After many “private tears” and “soul searching fears “ it did fall into place though.
Five weeks goes so fast when you want to fill in for three years absence. The frustration at times on both sides was sometimes overwhelming. However, we did get through it and achieved so much in the very short time together (five weeks).
The sewing ladies are such a wonderful bunch. I am sure they at first wondered what is this crazy Australian lady saying?!. With the help of interpreters, and a lot of hugs and high fives, we managed to break through the language barrier.
Accomplishments
We moved from a ground-level small, dark, dusty work environment to a first-floor open area filled with light and no dust. This was only achieved with hard physical work by all, including Wendy and Kopila. The new digs are perfect, It was so worth every minute and every muscle pain. Like so many important changes, this hadn’t even been part of my plan – I hadn’t thought that it was possible!
The downstairs shelving didn’t fit up the staircase…so it was cut into sections
Fortunately, the wood wasn’t too heavy
The other big accomplishment was training two of the ladies on electric sewing machines. Not an easy task as one had never sewn before and was scared of the machine. To see the joy in their faces when they finished (with a combined effort) their first kurtha (dress/ top) bought tears to my eyes. I am so proud of each of these ladies. They never give up.
Hopes for the future
Leaving Samunnat is always hard and breaks my heart but I left them knowing, with our ongoing online training and their positive attitude, they will achieve so much.
I have big plans for these future tailors and for many more future students of this group. I can only see this small group of women growing into an accomplished, much larger group. They will become self-sufficient. In time they can pass their knowledge onto other ladies, in similar circumstances, who will also be able to provide for their families.
Sunita is such a keen student
A highlight of this visit came when two former students walked in the door and told me how their sewing skills had taken their lives in a different direction. I love all of these ladies and I am so pleased that I have been given the chance to help in some small way.
So, dhanyabad Wendy and dhanyabad Kopila for your trust in me.