Another chance

Another start

Sylvia was one of the first graduates of our Evangeline Program which started in 2006. She distinguished herself with her excellent skills and was also one of the original bag ladies as they were called. Back then she made quite a bit of money from those bags which sold like hot cakes.

During the time she attended our classes, she had her fair share of tragedy and I remember the time her son was murdered and I prayed with her in her shack in the wetlands. She was also one of the first women to benefit from a buisness class we had then. Once she finished her course she went out on her own and for a time sewed another bag for another client. I had not seen her for a while until she showed up at the Ikamva Labantu Seniors Club at our site. She cooks for the ladies, fourof whom are part of our current sewing class. When I asked her how she was doing, she told me that she had no work now and even worse, her sewing machine had been burned in the shack fire last December. I had no answer but soon one came my way. The fabric shop in town had given us yet another recommendation and soon a call came for sewing help for a new business venture. Already I had been thinking of expanding the current crop of sewers and Sylvia was now the right person so head up this new venture. Once it grows, as it will, because the products are stunning and upmarket as they say here, other EM graduates will join Sylvia in this new venture. Now I will have money to pay for my kids, one at university and the other at college, she told me. Looking ahead, I am so excited because there are possibilities for the women to once again start their own business, this time with excellent local help from organizations that will help them organize, fund their work and mentor them. I had prayed so much about the next step and now that next step has become so clear and I will continue to let you know how we proceed.