skilling 240 women from mulago katanga slum

The term began September 1^st, 2022, and we finalized it in November. In the last months of class, our women were so excited that they could make the products they made. They were all in awe that their products came out well. We are always thankful that, our classes boost their self-esteem, bringing it to their notice that they are able to make meaningful things in their lives.

Some of the exciting items women learned from their part of the class were,

 1. Backpacks

2. Lady bags

3.  Purses

4. Collar shits

5. Collarless shirt

6. Pair of Shorts for women

7. Different types of blouses for women

8. Baby dresses for girls.

When the women join our classes we encourage them to also join the savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) group, which first of all equips the women with basic financial literacy. Women are also encouraged to save a minimum of 5 cents once a week for 11 months in a year. Part of this project is to help women develop a savings culture, saving for their investments like land, capital for their dream business, and school fees among other needs.

It's so interesting that we had some of the women who were able to save their machines for their tailoring business they are starting in the year 2023. We are yet to confirm the number of those who will be able to buy their machines.

As an organization, we are super excited about this particular class, that all of them loved what they were doing and because of that, we are hopeful that their next phase of life is going to be better for them.

Thank you for all your love and support to whoever gave towards the tailoring class project.

We are excited to have the women back in class after a break of one month from the first three months of term one. This term is going to run for three months and it started on 22^nd August 2022. During this term, the women will be advanced and they will learn to use the industrial machines and will be able to make their work using these machines.

In this class, the women are focusing more on learning how to make different accessories like:

 Bags: Backpacks, Tote bags, Burlap bags, Laptop bags, Coin purses, Cross bags 

Kitchen stuff, Aprons, Oven Mittens, Table runners, Napkins, Cushion covers

School Uniforms Shorts, Shirts, Dresses, Trousers

However, before the class started this term. Exactly one night before, thieves broke into the organization's premises and stole all our class tailoring machine heads. That happened on August.07.2022. we had to pose the class for two weeks and dealt with the police to try to recover our machines but we didn’t succeed in that. Covid 19 has negatively impacted our community whereby the majority of the youth are unemployed right now. There is a price increase in everything. And because of that, the country is experiencing an increase in crime. Thieves are still even in broad daylight.

On that note, we made a campaign on Facebook calling upon well-wishers and our friends to support us and buy new machines for women. Each machine head costs $65. And thankfully many of you our donors came in and supported us. We were able to raise over 10 machines, the organization has so far bought the 10 machines for the number of women who turned up for this class and we plan to buy more 5 for our next year’s class. 

As an organization, we are now more security cautious than before and we work hand in hand with the community council to see that our children are supported and left in schools so that we may be able to minimize on the crime rate in our communities.

Through the police night operations over 300 people are arrested for burglary and theft in Uganda.

Sina is one of the young women in the class who dropped out of school because of Covid and her single mom decided to make her look for petty work to provide for her young ones. When she got an opportunity to enroll in the tailoring class, she was determined to do her best, and right now she is one of the fastest learners we have this year. Sina believes with this skill she can start her own fashion house to help her family other than do prostitution to survive, which most of the women in Katanga do to sustain their families. Sina is a very promising and hardworking young woman and as Thread of life, we are happy to see the woman she is turning into. She is our dream come true.

With your continuous support, we believe we can expand our activities to reach more women and families to create positive change in our community and Uganda. We strongly believe that these women can dream again for their families and Thread of life is committed to walking this journey with them to see their dreams come into reality.

For us to be able to impact more women like Sina, We cannot do this alone, it's your support that has enabled us. So thank you so much. We however still need more support for us to be able to impact these mothers every year. Our goal is to see. that at least 240 are reached and transformed. Please spread a word of mouth to your friends and families