The Sewing School

Life in Kenya is particularly difficult (about 17% of the population lives below the poverty line) and, as is often the case, it is even harder for women. For this reason, the Brothers and the Association have always sought to pay particular attention to women, aiming to improve their standard of living.

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This is where the initiative for the Sewing School was born.

Built in 2019 with funds raised in Italy by what would later become Accanto a Kibera two years later, the Sewing School is a concrete project with the goal of teaching a trade to women who attend it, so they can aspire to economic independence for themselves and their families.

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Each year, the school welcomes 10 women who attend lessons daily. At the end of the year, the women receive the sewing machine they have used during the course as a gift, giving them the opportunity to start their own small business (it would be impossible for them to buy one, and despite this, many still struggle to purchase materials for sewing).

The cost for one year of the course for one woman is approximately €550, which includes the cost of the sewing machines, teaching materials, instructors, and meals.

 

The Photographic Exhibition Vite Accanto

In 2023, the Association launched the "Vite Accanto" Photographic Exhibition project.

This exhibition, entirely created by the Association's volunteers who took the photos and conducted the interviews on-site, aims to introduce the faces and stories of 24 girls who have had the opportunity to participate in the Sewing School courses in Isiolo over the years, in order to raise funds for the school itself.

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If you are interested in bringing the exhibition to your city, contact us through the form at the bottom of the page!