Tailoring Training
&
Treadle Sewing Machines
Vocational training can change lives of young men and women previously without hope. One opportunity is tailoring, which can provide a lifetime avocation, as much clothing in Malawi is handmade, and requires frequent mending.
In Malawian villages, tailors are often seen self-advertising by working out in front of their shops.
Recognizing limited resources were available to access sewing machines, and of course the lack of electricity in the villages, Malawi Visions has been collecting and refurbishing Singer treadle sewing machines at home, and including them in our annual cargo shipments to Malawi.
We have restored and shipped 24 Singer treadle machines in the past several years, and now tailoring “classes” are offered at each of our 6 after-school learning centers. But interest by young men and women alike has been so great, we are anxious to ramp up our search to collect many more machines, with a goal of as a dozen machines at each center.
Click for more information about our tailoring programs
Our tailoring classes are not only changing lives by providing a trade to local youths - they in-turn are bringing life-changing impact upon younger children's access to education! Part of the 6 month tailoring training program is making school uniforms for the younger children.
In Malawi, primary public education is free but, all students must wear a standardized uniform. In the remote villages, because many children cannot afford to buy a uniform (about $8 USD) - tragically they are denied schooling.
These children were not admitted to public school because they could not afford uniforms
click for video message from Malawi
Children with newly made public school uniforms
Even the youngest ones
need school uniforms
Now, with handmade uniforms, these children are able to attend public school
Malawi Visions reconditions every machine we receive.
Click center image for more information.
