Tailoring Training Centre for Kenyan slum women

Progressive Volunteers has made tremendous efforts to address the low job practical skills and unemployment problem in Ruaraka community. The organization established a small dressmaking and tailoring training centre to tackle the problems of low practical skill levels and lack of income generating opportunities for our target group especially the women and youth. To date the organization has trained 171 women and youth on various skills dressmaking, sewing and tailoring skills.

The project has perfectly worked to reduce poverty of vulnerable groups in Ruaraka as most of the trained women secure skilled employment at the Export Processing zones (EPZs industries) and others staring their own businesses. We hope to help more women and youth in the near future.

The tailoring training center project run classes for the single mothers and girls to give them relevant tailoring skills to enable them get skilled employment from Ruaraka industries. The first phase of the project saw 43 women trained on embroidery and sewing skills. The second phase which began in mid-August will run till 19^th December 2015 with 39 trainees. To date, 26 of the trained women and girls have managed to secure employment with Rafiki clothing Industry as machine operators. 2 of the trainees were retained in the centre to help with the management of the centre. The rest of the trainees have been absorbed in private businesses in Kariobangi North and Mathare North markets. This is our success so far this year 

To date, the organization has not managed to assist other trainees  secure loans from micro-finance institutions or given grant when available to purchase their own sewing machines for small businesses. And we would appreciate in the year 2016 at least 5 women are able to secure funding to purchase their own machines for sewing business. This is our dream for 2016.