Empower 100 women in Zimbabwe with Sewing Skills!

The ladies of BSG, led by Margaret Mutero, have been powering along lately with the help of Julie Routledge, the founder of AFADU. She spent some quality time with the ladies back in June this year during the annual AFADU filed trip....proving yet again how valuable those tips are, she sat with the team at BSG and came up with some strategies to increase the businesses productivity and hence profit. As I reported last time, one idea was to hold a $2 sale to attract new customers an turn over a high volume of sales. It was a raging success and earnt the business well over $700USD in one day....which is more than they were making in a month at some times! What Julie also found was that since the departure of the teams mentor and tutor, Mrs Chamuka, productivity had dropped off due to the essential lack of inspiration and guidance that comes with someone that can be on hand to enhance and teach new skills. So, one fine day back in June, Margaret and Julie headed up to Masvingo...a lazy few hours drive away!....to do some investigation and finally find a solution to their current challenge. That came in the form of 2 week intensive training programs at the Masvingo Technical College where in December Joyce will learn the techniques of fabric dying, Tsungirirai will study the basics of computing and Clorence and Loveness will build on their dressmaking skills.The team are really excited about these up and coming programs and what they will do for their business and the future of BSG. Thanks again to the supporters BSG through Global Giving who can make this happen for them. On a sadder note, on behalf of myself and AFADU, I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to Clorence who in August gave birth to a baby boy but unfortunately passed away soon after. Our thoughts are with her. I also want to wish the team well as they head into the Christmas season. 

Thanks again for you support.

Trish

www.afadu.com

P.s. I have included a photo of Margaret (top middle), Julie (2nd from the right) and team holding up coffee bags that are donate by Toby's Estate Coffee in Sydney. BSG turn these bags in to floor mats and sell them in their store. Yet another example of their handy work!  So clever!