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Developing self-sufficiency among families |
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Thusanang Sewing Project Our second project in Erasmus was with the Thusanang Sewing Project. This is a small business venture with 3 women who were provided sewing machines and a 16 week training course. Sewing materials were donated intermittently by various donors. We worked closely with these women, teaching them basic business skills to help empower them, promoting dignity, accountability, and respect. The end result was economic stability for themselves and their families. We also assisted these women in selling a potion of their finished products to The Fair Trade Shop in the state of Wisconsin, United States. These women have become respected as community leaders and take pride in their accomplishments. They have now been able to support their families, a total of 15 adults and children, for the past year. This is what we mean when we say 'one community, one child at a time'. By providing even the smallest group, sometimes even a single person, with the skills, confidence, and self respect to become independent, productive members of the community, we place in motion the wheels of change. We can help to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. One of our continuing goals is to expand on small business ventures such as this in other rural communities.
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