Rohingya Women Development Network (RWDN) Sewing Project
RWDN Project Objective:
The main aim of the proposed project is to empower Rohingya Child Brides and women that come from an entrenched patriarchal community by building and enhancing their sewing skills to enable them to generate income and equally support the livelihood of their children and family.
RWDN Sewing Project:
In August 2018, MANZA donated RM 4,500.00 to supplement the Rohingya
Women Development Network (RWDN) Sewing Project. The funds are to be utilised for the fees of the trainers, rent of space at RWDN office, interpreters and sewing materials and supplies for 15 Rohingya women and girls, over the course of four (4) months.
The project began in October 2018, and the first two classes of the Sewing Project focused on teaching the women and girls the basics of sewing where they repeatedly practised how to make straight lines and stitches. In the third and fourth class, the students advanced to learning how to attach zippers to fabric and making clutches with zippers.
A slight adjustment had to be done to the sewing project due to an urgent demand from another funder to train the women on sewing a stuffed toy called Rohi to be used to tell stories of Rohingya people. Income from the sale of the stuffed toys would be able to generate funds for the women and RWDN. NASHPOTATOES decided to incorporate the sewing training in the sewing project between 23 December – 11 February (Four classes in total), where the women learned how to make sewing patterns, cut the patterns and replicate the process on felt fabric, stuff the fabrics and sew them into stuffed toy characters.
As a result, the sewing project will continue in the month of April where the women will be learning how to make their own traditional wear in preparation for Eid Al- Fitr in June. The training will be conducted by a local tailor who will come in four times a month. We are hoping the women will be encouraged to participate in this project as they will be making an outfit for themselves first.
The sewing products that the women and girls have mastered between October 2018- January 2019 include:
- Pouch with zipper. 2. Hair scrunchie. 3. Stuffed Toy- Rohi.
And the products that the women and girls will master by May 2019 is traditional wear.
