Waneta Sunshine Rotary

 

Suzie was unable to go to Kenya in 2020, so Suzie has not met this class. In Kenya all public classes were cancelled for about 3-4 months due to Covid precautions.  Recently,  the teacher Betty contracted Covid and was hospitalized for about 10 days. The schoolwas closed for 2 weeks to quarantine the students – all of whom have since been vaccinated. Betty  has since recovered, and is teaching again.  One of the graduates of our sponsor class, from two years ago, is now the assistant teacher of the class.  She will soon become the lead teacher, as Betty will be going on maternity leave .  One of the other graduates of “our” class got a job at the hospital tailoring department, mending hospital gowns, sheets, etc.  Another of “our’ students has parked her sewing machine at a nearby boys boarding high school.  There she mends torn clothes for the students each day, earning around $3/day, a good wage for her! Others sew items for the hospital gift shop: surgical caps, colorful bags to carry books or groceries, purses, aprons etc. These are largely purchased by Western visitors and volunteers.

The goods in the picture were donated by a visiting doctor who recognized the great need for basic supplies, flour, sugar, oil, soap in the lives of these ladies, most of whom are mothers. The average education level of this class is 7^th grade; the students dropped out of school for a variety of reasons, usually a lack of funds.  

The student with only a 5^th grade education is actually the star student of this group.  They will be graduating December 15^th, each receiving a treadle sewing machine to start their business with (once all skill requirements have been met). The next class, which will be the fourth one after Waneta Rotary’s sponsor class will begin in January. There are usually 20 or more applicants for the coveted 6 spots.  Tenwek Community Health and Development do the screening and try to determine which of the “ladies” will benefit the most, and will most likely succeed.

The six students are in the middle , each behind  a yellow bottle. On right is the teacher and the two ladies on left are helpers/visitors.

Note, the project is officially called the Threads of Hope, but in our Rotary eClub it is affectionately known as Suzie’s Sewing Project. It was through Suzie Vaughan that Waneta Sunshine has a little bit of its heart in the wilds of Kenya. Also, honourable mentions go to Jonathon and Rueben who help work through all logistics and administration. This post will be updated when we have further details from Tenwek.