Many of those who supported my trip were happy to contribute to the Sewing Machine Project that we have going at Pastor Samson’s Church.
Basically, the women of the church know how to sew and have demand for school uniforms and tote bags, but lacked the finances to get started.
Thanks to the generosity of many people, we were able to purchase 6 sewing machine heads and 7 tables. When determining which machines to purchase, we decided to go with quality over quantity so that these machines would be able to continue to produce without needing much maintenance.
We went to a shop yesterday and I was able to negotiate a fair price for all of the machines plus some fabric and thread.
I will say, if you ever find yourself buying a sewing machine or other similar equipment, talk to Morris in the Industrial area of Kisumu at a store call Nildeep. Morris is a great guy and once he heard that we were purchasing for a church, was happy to work with us.
A church member named Caroline used her van to transport the machines and tables while Mandy and I took a Tuk Tuk.
Video link to Tuk Tuk ride in Kisumu
Tomorrow, we will be setting up the sewing area at the church and the women will get to start working. Right now, there are two women who are very proficient at sewing and they will be training others.
This is an important step towards gaining some financial independence as well as providing a space for the church to train people for a trade.
