In
partnership with the Bitengye Designers of Southern Uganda
Bitenge
Designers Group Photo
When a woman is hungry, she says,
“Roast something for the children that they may eat.”
African Proverb
In February 2009, the first Kitambaa Designs workshop was held
in Mbarara, Uganda. Twelve women, mostly widows and
grandmothers, and chosen from existing grandmothers’ and widows’
groups, began learning how to sew using a treadle sewing
machine, and how to quilt. These twelve came to the workshop
knowing little about cutting fabric and using an iron and
sewing, but at the end of three weeks, had developed the skills
required to make saleable products. Previously most of them had
been subsistence farmers, working in the fields from six in the
morning until six at night. They brought such enthusiasm and
determination to the project, and have been sewing on an ongoing
basis ever since then. Many of them has at least one child in
school who was not in school previously, and other proceeds from
their work has been used to purchase things like a bed, a cow, a
table, as well as for food and for medicine.
It was with the able assistance of my friend Joan Darling, and
local ACTS worker, Perez, as well as many others that this
project became a reality. Most important of all to the project’s
ongoing success is Alice, the Ugandan tailor I’d met on my first
visit to Uganda in 2007. She began by teaching the women how to
use a treadle sewing machine, and has since become Coordinator
of the group. She gives ongoing support to the other women,
helping them when problems arise, and checking the cushion
covers, placemats and wall-hangings they make for “good
quality”. Items are sold at craft and quilt shows back home in
Uganda, as well as through tourist shops in Uganda.
Knight pressing her sample
(note coal-filled iron!) |
Joan and Kamida using the seam ripper |
Justine learning to stitch on paper in a straight
line |
A second
workshop for the women was held in 2010, during which
instructions for making new items was given, as well as a review
of the original items. In January 2011 we will be returning for
a third workshop with the same group of women. The difference
this time is that we will teach Alice first, and then the
workshop will be taught by her, with our support. We will also
be visiting Alice’s new sewing school, one of the fund-raising
projects we are involved with. In time, our hope and Alice’s, is
that this will be a centre for teaching sewing and other crafts.
The Bitengye Designers is the name the women have chosen for
their cooperative. Kitengye is the name of the cotton cloth they
work with, and bitengye is plural – bitengye, they told me,
because they work with many fabrics. All of them now have the
means to earn an income, and their lives and that of their
families has hugely improved. Kitambaa is committed to
strengthening their cooperative, and to increase its capacity to
make and market a wide range of crafts, until it is ready to be
self-sufficient.
But none of this could have taken place without the support of
so many people at home. And there is ACTS (Africa Community
Technical Service) - the small Canadian NGO that has provided
the infrastructure and invaluable help to this project. Having
worked in Uganda since the mid-70’s, and having worked with
widows and grandmothers for the last 15 years, they have been in
the position to provide essential logistical and practical
support.
If you would like to make a donation to the Kitambaa Sewing
Project, please make a cheque out to ACTS and write Kitambaa
Sewing Project on the memo line, and mail it to 590 Rocky
Heights Rd., Comox, BC V9M 3E7. Any amounts above $10 are income
tax receiptable. Thank you to all of you for your ongoing
support!
Workshop classroom |
Time to celebrate |
Stella and Alice with Placemats |
