Sewing seeds of ubuntu gives matric pupils hope
CHERYL Scheepers enjoys seeing the smiles she brings to the young girls’ and boys’ faces when they emerge from her home in Southernwood on the night of their farewell dance looking fabulous.
The former Parmalat route clerk started “Project Rags to Riches” in June 2013 after noticing that a number of children from Grades 7 to matric missed out on an opportunity of attending their school farewell night because they could not afford the outfits.
She decided to take it upon herself to give them that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She kits out the underprivileged girls from head to toe. Make up and nails are also included – at no fee.
When the 65-year-old seamstress retired she asked her husband to build her a place where she could work from and she invested R18 000 of her pension funds for dresses that she loans out to the girls.
Project Rags to Riches is currently pushing another project within this one that gives out bras to girls who need them. She has a box with 100 new bras to go around.
“When they get here I let them choose which dress they would like.
“When some of them get here, they have never owned bras before, hence I started with another project of asking for bra donations on Facebook so I can give to them.”
As much as funds are a problem, their biggest challenge is space, with over 1 000 beautiful evening dresses as well as wedding gowns starting to fill the room to overflowing.
There are 300 pairs of glamorous shoes on offer. They have recently started a men’s range.
Carol Gower, who first met Scheepers when she went to drop off clothes, ended up going there every day to assist.
“When I walked in here, I saw how she was battling with getting everyone done. Cheryl doesn’t know when to stop, she just goes on and on. When she talks it is never about herself, and that grabbed me.
“I realised how unselfish she was, and that is when we became friends. You should see the girls when they leave here, seeing them smile like that is so lekker,” she said.
One of Cheryl’s dreams is to have her 11 sewing machines put to use, but they need attention.
She wants to equip anyone who is interested with the skill of sewing so they can make money out of it at a later stage.
“If we could get someone that could help service the seven over lockers and four machines, I would be very happy.
“Then I would be able to get some of the underprivileged to come and I would teach them.
“During my sewing lessons I will provide them with two meals so they are able to concentrate,” she said. —