Yoga mat bags

Early in June 2011, a few women asked if we could help them learn to sew using pedal powered machines and may be start businesses. We asked around to see who else would be interested and soon had 15 women, mostly young ones keen to give it a go. We asked Sister Michaela and her staff Lidia and Anna from the local Catholic Mission if they would provide for an intensive 3 months course for them as they had sewing machines lying idle most of the time. In return the Mission would benefit from an additional income to help them with running their school for disabled girls.
Classes were attended 4 times a week for 3H. While some ladies were not able to attend the whole time due to changes in their circumstances and some just found it too difficult, on the whole the project was a great success. However, it was realized that 3 months was not quite enough to turn these newly skilled women into professionals, so we funded another 3 months. In the meantime, Suzanne one of our volunteer had the idea to get a prototype yoga mat bag designed and made by one of her designer friends. By the end of October, 9 of the women excitingly formed a group, called themselves the UPENDO group (meaning love; well we did say they were young ladies) and started to train to make the bags. When we received a sample in the UK made by their leader that was of top quality, the kanga project committed to an initial order of 50 bags. During November and December, The UPENDO group worked hard and with the help of Jess and Nicole the latest volunteers, got into a committed work schedule. The 50 bags were finished mid-January. 20 of them are being sent to Abu Dhabi thanks to Razan (past Kilimanjaro fundraiser) who will do her best to sell them on through some connections in the world of Yoga classes. The rest is on its way to the UK. If, like Razan, you know of possible outlets for the bags, please get in touch. So what’s next for these ladies? Check out their 1st newsletter for something even more exciting and sustainable.