SOWING INTO SEWING…AND GROWING!

“In 3 years to come, I see myself having at least 20 machines, a bigger training centre maybe in town and training at a larger scale.”

Edendale, a township some 10km outside Pietermaritzburg, is home to an impoverished community beset by unemployment, substance abuse, gangsterism and more. However, it is also home to our community transformation sewing project ‘Ngezandlazethu’ (which means ‘with our hands’) – a beacon of hope and light in an otherwise darkened place. Smangele Nzimande, last-born of ten children, was abandoned to the care of her mother and siblings when her father set off for Johannesburg in search of work and never returned. At the time her mum was pregnant with her – she is now Thirty-Three years old. Life was a struggle for her family; her mother battled to make ends meet so her older siblings had to drop out of school to find work and help. After completing her schooling career, she could only find work as a Domestic Helper. Two years ago an acquaintance told her about our sewing project Ngezandlazethu, which she now says, “changed my life for better.” On reflecting, Smangele says, “I didn’t want to go the because I had no money but they told me the course is for free. I never thought sewing can be a money generating business because my sister had a machine and was able to sew but I have never seen her making money out of it. But since they said it’s free, I decided to go for it.”

Smangele learned all she could with determination and dedication and successfully graduated from our 2023 course, winning First Prize in the category of Best Collection. Her family was so proud of her achievement, as she was too!

Our sewing project ignited in Smangele self-belief and confidence in the skills which she learned, honed, and clearly excelled in.  It also fuelled in her a passion and purpose that, contrary to her former belief, it is possible to make a living by employing these skills she had now gained. With help of our sewing project Project Administration (Mrs Dladla) and our Community Worker (Londeka Gasa), she became a member of one of our Community Transformation Groups (CTG) and, post her 2023 graduation, returned to the sewing project in 2024 to volunteer her assistance and shadowed the Project Administrator in order to gain knowledge of how to run a training centre as she was keen to start same for her community in Bulwer where she lives. “I live in a very rural area and we as ladies are raised for one purpose to get married and have children. If you do not go to the city to further your education than you are bound to become a stay-at-home wife depending on your husband fully. I didn’t want that future I wanted more but not for myself only I dreamt for more even for the ladies back home. I was striving to bring change for them also. Thanks to AE’s sewing project and CTG I am part of playing a huge role for this to happen.”

Smangele with her ‘prize’-ed possession

In December 2024, equipped with three sewing machines (one her prize for Best Collection pictured; another purchased through our CTG initiative, the third sponsored by AE for those starting small businesses), Smangele started her own training school ‘Senzokuhle Sewing Training Centre ‘ in her home community in Bulwer.

“The class has started, I have 14 ladies and they are doing very well,” said Smangele

Smangele’s students, sporting the ‘fruits of their labour’, have made exceptional progress under her tutorship.

Smangele has truly been transformed through our sewing project from her casual, dismissive entry into it to her triumphant graduation, she is now an entrepreneur with a vision…“In 3 years to come, I see myself having at least 20 machines, a bigger training centre maybe in town and training at a larger scale. I also want the ladies I train to have a fashion shop working together to produce at a large scale, uniforms for schools and just clothing for all types of people’s needs. “

You go girl!

We are so proud of Simangele’s achievements and support this courageous and progressive woman, praying that she will be continue to be successful and positively impact on.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.

PROVERBS 31: 24-25

Gavin John – Communications & Centre Manager | South Africa