Fundraising for Kenyan seamstresses

Seeds to Sew emissaries 2016 with their parents and Dr. Angwenyi

In partnership with Seeds to Sew International, five Hopewell Valley High School students helped launch the non-profit’s new women’s sewing co-op during their service trip to Kenya in summer 2016.  

 Since the Fall 2015, Seeds to Sew and the emissaries raised over $2,200 to train and purchase sewing and knitting machines, raw materials for the 20 members of the group. Additionally, the group of seamstresses made 164 school uniforms that were then provided free of charge to orphaned students in the Nyanchonori area who would otherwise not be able to attend school, as uniform is required.

The 20 members are now fully trained and ready to share their newfound skill by opening their own sewing and knitting businesses. Nyanchonori is a rural farming village where families live on less than $2 a day. Like many corners of the world, women and girls are marginalized as education is seen as ‘wasted’ on a girl. The Women’s Group will allow women in the community to learn a skill and earn income through making and selling clothing items for their local market. This, in turn, will enable them to feed their families, as well as pay for school fees for their children. All net proceeds are then provided back to the participants.

Sierra Kochersperger, a rising senior at HVCHS, is traveling to Kenya again this summer as a Seeds to Sew emissary, and will be delivering machines, supplies and all the money raised. Your generous gift will help us reaching her goal of raising $3,000 this year. No amount is too small; please consider how direct of an impact your donation will have. And, since Seeds to Sew is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, your donation is tax-deductible.

Seeds to Sew International has been helping women and girls in Kenya raise money for their education and other basic life needs since 2011. Our method is through empowerment; we teach them new job skills and how to apply them to become entrepreneurs. By sending a gift today, you will be helping the newly trained seamstresses start to build a market within their own community. With your generosity, those 20 women of the Nyanchonori Embusuro Women’s Group will be well on their way to running successful businesses.

On behalf of the women who will benefit from this fundraiser, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your kindness and support are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sierra and The Seeds to Sew Team