Rural Women Learn How To Sew For Their Own Businesses
On April 27, 41 women from 15 rural villages, relatively strangers, met for the first time at the Y.W.C.A. in Belize City for 60 hours of skills training to improve their lives and circumstance; in short make them independent.
The Belize Rural Development sponsored programme, administered by the Y.W.C.A. introduced the ladies to four areas of training: Food Preparation and Hospitality, Cosmetology and Sewing.
Most of the women chose areas in which they had some prior knowledge but not Edelene Smith, who has five children.
She knew absolutely nothing about the parts of a machine, let alone sewing 101, but after six weeks, who knew.
“I chose sewing and today I can make a dress for my daughter who is graduating. I feel I can now open a business and make my own money,” Smith asserts.
On Friday last, June 15, members of the European Union, providers of the funding, along with Belize Rural Development Programme B.R.D.P., the executing agency, toured the project onsite and presented utensils and tools the women will use in their new found professions.
While on tour, the group found ladies peeling mangoes for preserves, icing cakes, styling hair and sewing.
The ladies were busy putting their newly acquired skills to the test. Felice Zaccheo, Head of the B.R.D.P./E.U. delegation sure was impressed adding that the European Union’s aim is to alleviate poverty in Belize, especially in the rural communities.
“Since 1999 the EU has contributed banana support programmes and spent some $62 million in Belize alone and has more to spend,” he says.
President of the Y.W.C.A. Dame Elaine Middleton, in welcoming the ladies and guests gave an overview of the project. Participant of the cake decorating class Brenda Herrera, gave the vote of thanks but took the opportunity to say the project has already had tremendous impact on her life as she feel empowered.
Following the brief ceremony it was time to distribute the tools and kits, all $10,000 worth to the 41 women.
In the area of cosmetology, 11 ladies received stove holder kits and three manicurists receive nail care kits.
Five are enrolled in the sewing class and they received brand new sewing machines, a motor and notions.
All the donated tools carry impressive brand names and are new. And that’s not all, the ladies received that day; they were assisted by representatives of B.R.D.P. to apply for seed money in the form of small grants as start up capital.
However, they decide to hone their craft they will be monitored to ensure they train one other woman to start up her own little business too.
The Y.W.C.A., the non-profit organisation through which the project is being realised originally planned for 24 women but the demand forced the Y, the 51-year-old organisation to accept 41 ladies.
The project supervisor is Gordon Holder, Ph.D., while Technical Director of B.R.D.P. Marcelino Avila deserves much needed praises to see the project through.
On Saturday, June 23, closing exercises will be held at 10:00A.M. at the Y.W.C.A. for all 41 ladies who are now ready to make a mark in their own lives, their children’s and by extension their communities.
Guest Speaker for the occasion is scheduled to be Women’s Department Director, Carol Fonseca.
Source The Reporter
