Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
New lease on life – one stitch at a time
FOUR students were this week given a new lease on life when they completed a basic sewing skills class in Muizenberg, courtesy of Berg of Hope.
Berg of Hope is a non-profit organisation founded by Ayesha Alexander earlier this year with the hope of giving the homeless and unemployed an opportunity to gain new skills that could help them improve their circumstances.
On Wednesday, Berg of Hope held a graduation ceremony for four students who had completed their basic sewing skills class.
Berg of Hope came to be after Alexander had given some money to a homeless woman while driving through Muizenberg.
“My daughter said, ‘Mommy, money only feeds the homeless for a day’, and that’s when it hit me. I knew I had to do more.”
Alexander has been cooking for the homeless and working with welfare organisations such as U-turn for a long time, but this year she realised she could give the homeless much more hope.
“I went home and thought about it. I prayed about it, and I told my husband that there was something I could do with my background, but I didn’t know exactly what at first. I thought to myself that I come from a poor background with only a Standard 5 education,” said Alexander.
“Eventually it hit me. I worked in the clothing industry all my life. I started out as a cotton cutter and continued to work in quality for many years.”
Alexander decided she would offer free sewing lessons to the homeless and unemployed and give them hope and a chance to earn a living. She contacted friend and former colleague, Jessica Lewis, with the hope she would join Berg of Hope as a teacher. Lewis happily agreed.
Classes are held from Monday to Thursday and Berg of Hope has 16 students. The NPO has been funded by Alexander and her husband’s private funds, with donations from friends, family and other contributors at times.
They also provide sandwiches, tea and coffee for students.
Mimie Citengo, 22, is the youngest of the four students to have graduated from the programme. She dreams of becoming a designer and recalled how she tried to apply for a professional designer course but was told it would cost R30 000, which she couldn’t afford.
Citengo made her own dress for the graduation ceremony on Wednesday and expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities offered by Berg of Hope.
Citengo’s mother, Stella Mangituka Landu, also graduated from the programme.
Jina Bwanga Malanda, a mother of two young children, said before she joined the programme she had been feeling like she knew nothing and had no means of providing for her children.
“I was thinking that I need to do something for my kids, because I knew nothing. But now I can work on the machine, and I say thank you to God, and to Mama Ayesha and Mama Jessica,” said Malanda.
Rachel Dikwana Ndelo, also a mother of two, graduated from the programme and said Alexander had made her feel welcome from the first day.
“They didn’t only give us a job but they’ve given us a life,” said Rachel Dikwana Ndelo, another graduate.
To contribute to Berg of Hope, contact Alexander on 060 915 1367 or email ayesha.alexander1962@gmail.com. The Bank details for Berg of Hope are: ABSA Current account number 4104661407, Branch code 632005.