A New Venture.

Great things start small. A Call to Mercy is venturing into a small experiment in the community by employing seamstresses to make clothing that we can then sell at home, putting the profit back into A Call to Mercy’s orphan and vulnerable children’s program. The seamstress makes a fair wage which helps uplift the local economy and CTM will make a profit to funnel back into the program. After getting prices, buying fabric and checking out quality using Carol’s knowledge of sewing, we chose two seamstresses and asked them to make two designs that we brought from home. The seamstress featured here is Grace Fuen. She is 36 years old and has 6 children from age 2-16. Grace has been running her rented shop for 9 years. She has also been going to classes for 5 years. She dropped out of school at age 11 and is just ready to graduate high school, along with her oldest child. We love her drive and desire to learn and work and make a better life for herself and her children. We gave her the first sample trousers at 10:30am with fabric and she had a pair to show us made by 2pm. Then she went to school.

6 comments on “A New Venture.”

Val Eason says:

February 16, 2016 at 6:41 pm

I so admire Grace for her drive and enthusiasm, how hard it must be to have a job and children and finish your education, well done grace, and you and carol xxx

LikeLike

terryhirst says:

February 16, 2016 at 10:57 pm

She’s an amazing woman, Val…with a wonderful happy spirit. Gives you pause.

LikeLike

Reply

Carlene nardi says:

February 17, 2016 at 12:29 pm

Talk about being driven, now that’s an inspiration. 10.000 villages would be the perfect place to show their creations. I’ll talk to Eric about some really nice linen and gauze fabrics. How does the fabric get to the seamstress??? xoxox

LikeLiked by 1 person

terryhirst says:

February 17, 2016 at 1:07 pm

Thanks for your thoughts, Carlene…you’re always looking for ways to help! Carrying enough fabric would be difficult, even if donated. The seamstresses here often sell fabric or you can buy from a fabric vendor and take the fabric to the seamstress. We like the idea of buying local as well so it puts more money into the local economy. Fabric is very cheap here and they have great African prints, but you have to really search to find the softness we want in the products.

LikeLike

Reply