Vocational courses for income generation.
Over the last few months our Free Classes Program has been as busy as ever. JWOC was very proud to celebrate the Sewing for Livelihoods Graduation recently. Thirteen students from impoverished backgrounds completed a 16 week course in advanced sewing skills. These students had previously completed JWOC's 16 week Basic Sewing Course. On this next level course students learnt how to create patterns and further technical skills required to make quality purses, bags, shirts, trousers, skirts and dresses.
Sewing student Phas spoke at the Graduation:
'I would like to thank both the teachers and JWOC for giving me this chance to improve my sewing skills and help me to earn money.'
Graduate Leankana explains the impact of the course on her:
'It means a lot to me. I have been changed by joining this course. I can make quality clothing improving my skills from the Basic course and I got ideas for designing clothing.'
So what's next? JWOC's sewing for livelihoods course aims for all of its students to earn an income within two months of graduating from the course. We work together with the students during the course and after to ensure that this can happen by building partners locally, creating alumni of students who can keep in touch and share opportunities and keeping up-to-date with the local job market.
What else? Graduate sewing students are able to take a 0% interest loan from JWOC's Microfinance Program to purchase a sewing machine to generate an income for themselves and their families with their newly perfected skills. Mao Channa shares her future aspirations
I will use my skills for running a small business at home, and I will design clothing. I will create new things based on the ideas I have gained from this course.'
A sneak Preview of 2014...
In 2014 we will be strengthening our Livelihoods course even further. Keep posted to see the emergence of small business start up loans for graduates, further collaboration making school uniforms for schools, and some more great graduate success stories!