skilling 240 women from mulago katanga slum

Our 2022 classes went very well. the women were able to finish up their classes and now they are working on their own. we thank God for that.

For the year 2023, we have not yet registered any new women, due to limited financial support. and because of that, our classes have been put on hold until when we are in a financial position to support the women throughout their classes

As an organization, we are still seeking sustainable funding, that will bring about the sustainable operation of the class.

As soon as we are financially stable we shall be updating you on our next class

Please keep us in your prayers and don't forget to share our work with your friends and family.  we need your support.

Thank you

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

This year skilling the women started on April.06.2022. 15 Women and young girls from the slum were registered for this class. The class will run for six months. The six months are divided into two terms each term takes 3 months. For the first three months, the first term therefore will be ending July.11.2022. The syllabus to be covered this term has the following.

1. Machine maintenance

2. Threading of the machine

3. Drafting and Paper Cutting

4. Stitching and straight-lining

5. Peddling of the machine

6. Baby dressmaking

7. Skirt making: round skirts, Round, panel, pleated, gathered, straight, gathered

8. Skirt making

9. Different types of dresses. Strapless, Armless, Double breast, one arm, panel dresses

Due to Covid 19 pandemic, many young girls in the slums become single mothers hence dropping out of school. This time around we have more young girls in our classes than before. We were able to hire a professional teacher who is also a fashion designer in our city, this is because we want to give our women the best. The teacher's professional touch has helped the women to do more better stitches in whatever they sew.

 Esther, aged 17, is one of the girls who dropped out of school due to the effect of the pandemic, Her parent couldn't support her in school anymore because during the covid19 period they survived on their business capital, but now there is no income to support them at home and in school. By the time we met Esther, she was vending merchandise within the Katanga slum with no hope of ever going back to school. Bu right now Esther is one of the best students in the class and we have high hopes for her. She believes she can be the next big fashion designer in Kampala.

With your continued support, We believe that we shall continue to create more impact in our community and the lives of our women, and We want to see their dreams of becoming fashion designers and starting their workshops to increase their household incomes can become a reality. Without your support, their dreams can go down the trench. 

At end of the class, each woman needs the support for tailoring machines which cost $150 and $100 capital part of which can help to cover rent and material purchases to help in the start of their business. We looking forward to seeing that by the end of the class every woman will be able to get a start-up for the impact to be fully met.

Again, we are so grateful for your support. Thank you so much!!!!!

Made by: Project Manager

Nakayi Florence

HAPPY 2022 TO YOU ALL

Skilling the 5 women last year has been one of our most fulfilling and challenging projects in 2021

Training women amidst lockdown and with limited funds. We were able to have the women go through the 6 months class of tailoring.

We ended the class on December 10 is when our classes ended. We were delayed by the 42 days lockdown that happened from July to August. That lockdown affected the women's class attendances because some had to drop off class to go look for a job to be able to feed their children.

We were able to end the class with 3 mothers, and here is an outline of things they were able to learn.

• Machine peddling and maintenance
• Machine threading
• Straight line and clean stitches
• Boulder measure
• Skirts: Round skirts, Round, panel, pleated, gathered, straight, gathered
• Dresses: Strapless, Armless, Double breast, one arm, panel dresses
• Shirts: Classic/ School shirts
• Trousers: Elastic, gentleman, and waistband trouser
• Jackets

With the above skills, we believe that these women can be able to start their workshop. The women however need the support of tailoring machines which each cost $100 per woman and also $100 capital part of which can help to cover rent and material purchase to help in the start of their business.

2022 class is going to be delayed because we don’t have enough funds yet to run the class. when we have several women registered who would love to use fashion to change their lives and to keep their children in school. But our limited donations cannot enable us to continue with the class.

To our supporters, we will keep you updated on how things are going and when and when the next class will begin.