(Make fun of me all you will, but I can't resist a good LC quote.)
Today, I want to share a little bit about the project I am devoting my time to. Since arriving in my community, I've been assisting my site mate, Julia, with a killer project that she founded over her service. The idea originated from a group of women that wanted to generate stable income for themselves and to provide social services for their community at large. Many women here are quite skilled in sewing and needlework, so that seemed like the natural basis for the project. Months and months were spent trying to define exactly what they wanted to make and how they would produce, market, and sell these products. The name they decided on for the project was 'Aitsama Huisen'. In Nama, this basically means to help yourself and do for yourself.
Fast forward to about 3.5 months ago to when I arrived- my site mate, Julia, had applied for a Peace Corps grant to host the initial training of women in making the purses and cosmetic bags she had been designing with the women. I jumped right in by assisting in any way I could. The grant was approved for over N$100,000 to purchase sewing machines, fabric, food, and everything that goes into training about 15 women over the course of 2 months. In addition to the grant, the community also contributed by donating a location for the training, additional food, and fabric. The training focuses on the technical aspects of making the products in our catalog, while also incorporating business skills and lessons in health-related topics.
The idea of this project is to have an all-encompassing impact directly on women's lives. First of all, we aim to provide a safe working environment for women to feel empowered and supported. This means they will have a reliable and fair source of income if they put the work into making the products to our quality levels. They will also be trained in aspects of running a business, like how we calculate their labor rate and the selling price of our products. We will be meeting with each woman to go over her finances. The goal is to teach her how to budget her earnings and come up with a consistent savings plan, so that her income will provide stability to her home. We also will be going over all of the health basics; which includes education in HIV/AIDS, substance and alcohol abuse, maternal and child health, and nutrition.
After an application process, interviews, and countless meetings, the initial training class of 18 women was chosen. And last Monday, February 1st, our first day of training began! Some of the women chosen already have businesses out of their homes where they make dresses or school uniforms. But due to the irregularity of business or the prices they sell their goods at, they are not making enough money to sustain themselves. They have chosen to be a part of our project, where they can supplement their income and their skills. These women make up our advanced class. We also have a group of women in our beginner class who have only sewn by hand or have never sewn before at all. These women are using our project as an opportunity to learn a new skill and empower themselves.
Although the classes have not gone perfectly, they have been incredible to watch. Some of the scenes I have witnessed will be ingrained into my memory for the rest of my life: The nervous laughter that erupted when the beginners turned on their machines and made their first stitches. The lead instructor taking a moment to do finger exercises with the women because they were too stiff. The advanced class requesting for their lunch break to be shorter, because they wanted to get back to work. The children that follow their moms and grandmothers into class everyday and slowly make their way over to play with Julia and I. The original committee members leading a prayer and song every morning, to lift the women's spirits and get them motivated for the day.
The work isn't over yet. This is only our first week. But if the women dedicate themselves to this project, I know it will be successful and long-lasting. It has the possibility to make a permanent, positive impact on the women who are participating. And hopefully that will extend to their partners, children, and extended families!
My dream is that 20 years from now, I can return to Namibia and visit the Aitsama Huisen Project- where hundreds of women have been employed and accomplished their personal goals. Or to be shopping at a fair trade store in the states and see Aitsama Huisen products on the shelves, with customers impassioned by the stories of the women who made their coveted bag. These dreams may not become a reality, I know those are big goals. But over the next 15 months, I'm going to dedicate my hard work to the women of the project and helping them to be as successful as they possibly can be. This is what my service is about and I'm so thankful for my project.
