Sewing thrives at Thusong Centre
The trainees at the Thusong Centre’s sewing project, Simply Spheff! are making history today, 30 September at the centre.
These newly-trained designers will not only display their first clothing range, but it will be on sale at the closing celebration of the Thusong Centre service delivery outreach week.
From 26 to 30 September, the centre went the extra mile to serve the community, offering more than 40 service providers the opportunity to promote their services to the public.
The trainees will be selling their garments at the market at the Thusong Centre today, Friday 30 September.
According to Gail Lawrence-Appiah, the training facilitator, the students are part of the programme for three months. During this time they are taught numerous skills to produce their own garments and in this way, become economically empowered.
Nombonsio Jika, Thusong Centre coordinator, said the market day was a tangible expression of the Mossel Bay Municipality’s GROW strategy. This entails growing the economy by creating training opportunities for entrepreneurship and providing a platform for informal traders to sell their goods.
Burnsley Kruger, one of the trainees, said she found the training truly empowering.
“Sewing is part of my history. My grandmother used to sew, but I never learnt how. I was too young. Now I feel empowered, not only economically, but as a woman, and in touch with my heritage.”
Consumables are required for the sewing project, Lawrence-Appiah said.
“Without fabric and other necessary sewing materials, we cannot continue. If anyone wants to support us in empowering the students, this is one of the best ways. Please donate to us or bring us your unwanted materials.”
She added that extra sewing machines would also boost the project.
“We can only train a limited number of students. We could do more things, faster, if we had more equipment.”