More than 60 migrant and former refugee women in Hamilton are turning sewing skills into moneymaking opportunities and making significant savings in their families’ budgets through an initiative called UpLift.
The women and girls from six different African and Middle Eastern communities are learning how to sew and repair new and recycled items at classes run by the NZ Ethnic Women’s Trust as part of its UpLift programme. They’re making money too, selling shopping bags within their local communities and actively seeking markets in Hamilton and South Auckland.
Some of the women are beginners. Others are already highly skilled and are using the programme to explore promising prospects in the world of sewing and design.
Director and founder of the NZ Women’s Ethnic Trust, Fadumo Ahmed, says the year-old project fosters creative expression, develops confidence and prepares individuals for potential future employment opportunities in the field.
Women from migrant and former refugee communities in Auckland and Hamilton fundraised to transport donated sewing machines, other equipment and materials from throughout the country by making and selling meals in markets and collecting koha from their contacts.
“It’s a tribute to the way migrant and former refugee communities work together to help everyone succeed,” Fadumo says.
Nurturing connections
UpLift supports ethnic women in a variety of other ways as well. There are stress management workshops, parent education classes, opportunities for safe discussions about family violence, and sessions on how the Government, the not-for-profit sector and the wider society work together.
E Tū Whānau kaimahi Jenny Janif and some of the team from Ministry of Social Development’s regional office in Hamilton worked to get the programme up and running and continue to provide advice and support when needed.
“There’s also a lovely, low key approach to other issues the women face such as parenting in a culture that is very different to their own. By creating community through sewing, it’s easier to talk freely about parenting and provide context and information. The group nurtures the connections between them and between communities, creating a sense of belonging,” says Jenny.
Want more?
Read about an initiative involving former refugees from Vietnam in the Hutt Valley
