By Temnotfo Mvubu | Public Relations Manager
With nimble fingers and hopeful hearts, 4 women gather around whirring machines, stitching more than just fabric; They’re sewing dreams into reality, and creating accessories and toys that are synonymous with their economic empowerment. Through the sewing ladies program which we were able to revive in 2023, after having to slow down production during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we’re giving local Swazi women a fighting chance at breaking the chains of poverty and rising above limitations to empower themselves and their families. One such woman, who works as a shopkeeper at The Dvumisa Creative store in Ezulwini and is now part of the sewing group alongside her sister.
Q: How has working at Dvumisa Creative and being part of the sewing group impacted your life in 2023?
Happy: It's been a good year for us at the shop. During COVID, things were really slow, but last year we saw business picking up again. Many of our customers are returning to the shop now and again, which is good. I’m also quite glad that my sister and I were able to be part of the sewing group because it created jobs for us. It’s given us a chance to assist our families financially and helped us gain skills. Before being part of the group, I didn't know how to sew anything. Now I have that skill, so I’m very happy.
Another way we’ve been able to provide economic empowerment to local women is through the Livivane Guesthouse. Last year, when things slowed down in the sewing group, we employed some of the women as housekeepers at Livivane. This way, we were able to still have them generate an income to support their dependents.
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