Focus for Giving Tuesday 2021
The UMC in Mozambique is expanding an impactful program: Local churches are training young women to sew, and it provides them a different life path.
“It becomes common that a girl becomes pregnant at a very young age, especially in rural communities” relates Mrs. Rute Andre Uthui, coordinator of the UMC Tsalala Sewing project of the South Annual Conference in Mozambique. With no economic opportunity outside of marriage many young girls find themselves in early and often difficult marriages. Sadly, often, Uthui says, “she becomes a victim of abuse.”
Leaders in the UMC in Mozambique are, however, working to change that. Rev. Alzira Isac, the coordinator for North Conference women’s projects, described how the church has invested in teaching vocational skills.
“This has led us to create three vocational centers for sewing and design in Chimoio, Nicoadala and Mituge, which within the constraints we have, more than 30 people have been trained in the past two years,” Isac says.
She adds that a “lack of positive role models in communities and lack of moral values contribute to a given problem. In addition, communities are also numbed by violent crimes. Our vocations have equipped them in Christian values and helped reduce premature marriages, violence and induced trained people to form sewing associations … This is with no doubt empowering men and women.”
Reporting on a similar project in Tsalala, Uthui shares, “The Tsalala project for instance, feels successful for having trained 22 girls in three months of 2020. Today, girls are able to personally sew their own clothes, including school outfits, church group’s outfits, and those of their families and community members.” Twelve young women are currently enrolled in this program.
Of course, the real story of change is with the students themselves. Felicidade Macome shared her story:
“Personally, I was trained at Tsalala. It was wonderful being there. I did cutting and sewing course, and I left feeling well prepared. Afterwards, I continued practicing at home. Now, the sky is the limit. Clothes, bags, accessories, capulanas and curtains don't intimidate me anymore. Sewing is more than just knowing how to operate machines; it actually has a lot to do with planning, technique and even spatial vision. Sewing is therapeutic and relaxing for me. Since I had a sewing machine of my own, I am now able to gain some income from the work I am doing and therefore help cover my children’s school fees and sustain my family.”
Do you want to help young women like Felicidade realize a different future? This year the Mozambique Initiative’s Giving Tuesday focus will do just that. Follow us on Facebook and visit www.mzinitiative.org to help share the story. Then, encourage your small group, friends and family to give a little to make a big difference.
The price of a sewing machine in Mozambique is $700 USD. A roll of fabric to make school uniforms is $80. A box of hand needles is $1.50. Any gift of any size will make a real difference.
Once donations are collected in Missouri, they will be sent to Mozambique in time for the beginning of 2022. This program has been successful in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 and now 2021. With help from you, 2022 will be the best year yet!