A new community-upliftment legacy project is taking shape in Bushmans River, with six local participants beginning a 16-week journey into sewing, entrepreneurship and small-business development.
The Community Sewing and Entrepreneurship Project has been launched by the Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea and is being managed by the club’s Vocational Service Subcommittee.
Three Rotary clubs working together
The project has been made possible through collaboration between the Rotary Club of Tamworth in Australia and the Rotary Clubs of Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape.
Funding of more than R117,000 was donated by the Rotary Club of Tamworth to the Rotary Club of Port Alfred. The Port Alfred club kindly facilitated the transfer of the funding to Kenton-on-Sea, enabling the project to be established.
The initiative is being undertaken as a collaborative project between the Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred Rotary clubs. Kenton-on-Sea is responsible for implementing and managing the programme, while the two clubs will share progress, experience and learning as the project develops.
Meet the participants
Following a recruitment and selection process, six local participants were chosen for the programme:
- Songezo Mabatane
- Asanda Tobi
- Akhona Tobi
- Sophemelela Vazi
- Zanele Sali
- Sinoluvuyo Lelengwana
Training is taking place at the Bushmans River Town Hall and is being led by Tanya Fouché, a master seamstress and skills development facilitator with more than 40 years of sewing experience.
Tanya began sewing at school at the age of 11. She progressed from hand sewing and traditional Singer treadle machines to garment construction and tailoring using electric and industrial machines.
Practical skills with a future in mind
During the 16-week programme, participants will develop skills in basic and advanced sewing, pattern cutting, garment and accessory making, and the use of industrial sewing machines.
Teamwork, entrepreneurship and small-business skills will also form an important part of the training.
The project is about far more than learning to sew. Its longer-term goal is to equip participants with practical, transferable skills that could enable them to make and sell their own products, generate an income and create new opportunities for themselves.
Once the initial training has been completed, the project team will work with the participants to identify products that can be produced locally and sold profitably.
A project designed to last
The Community Sewing and Entrepreneurship Project has been established as a community-upliftment legacy project rather than a once-off training course.
By combining funding from Australia, support from Port Alfred and local implementation in Kenton-on-Sea, the project demonstrates what can be achieved when Rotary clubs work together across towns and countries.
We look forward to sharing the progress of Tanya and the six participants over the coming months—one step and one stitch at a time.
