Stationary Pedal

Agnes and Patience are two of our newest beneficiaries in Accra Ghana. Their donated machines run off one pedal instead of our usual two and they are stationary, but will propel them forward toward achieving their goals and dreams. Through our partner Village Bicycle Project, Agnes and Patience each received access to a donated sewing machine from our latest shipment to Ghana.

Both women have dreams of becoming fashion designers and are enrolled in an apprenticeship program to achieve those goals. Unfortunately the class has more students than sewing machines. Because they lacked access to a sewing machine outside of class, both women were struggling to keep up with class work. Perfecting sewing skills is not something you can learn from reading a book. Hands on training is the only way to truly develop your craft, and practice is how you get better. 

Patience is only 22 and new to the program. Agnes is 25 and entered the program after high school two years ago. Since they are two of the newest apprentices, they do not have their own machines to use during class. They are sharing machines with the teacher or a senior in the program. Often they are sitting beside the person using the machines, watching. The only practice they get is during a break when they can hop on a machine not in use. 

Agnes and Patience had to rush to get their projects done during class time since they don't have sewing machines at home. They were unable to complete homework and had very limited time to practice the days assignments, only being able to use machines during breaks. They were not getting as much out of their apprenticeship as the other students in their class; they were falling behind and feeling discouraged. 

Agnes felt like her dreams were fading away. She had all these visions in her head of styles she wanted to create but she was much slower to develop the skills she needed to improve and develop. When Samjane Fashion School received a shipment of sewing machines from our latest container of bikes to Village Bicycle Project Agnes and Patience finally had their own sewing machines to use during class. Agnes immediately had a renewed motivation to complete her training and once again reach toward her goals of becoming a talented fashion designer. 

Because BfW recently received a large donation of used sewing machines we hope to continue to send more machines to support this project in Ghana as well as many others uplifting fashion designers and seamstresses in several of our supported projects around the world.