Mildred, above, is still our youngest graduate. She was 12 when she started Skills for Life in Tailoring, and 13 when she graduated. Her family was so impressed with her that they all pitched in to buy her a pedal-powered sewing machine – a big investment for a family in the slum. She was also offered a place at a school!
Now she attends school and makes money in her off-time to help support her family.
This is what it’s about — Mildred’s LIFE was changed, her family’s CULTURE was changed, and Mildred has a SUSTAINABLE way to create income for the rest of her life.
The graduation for Term 2 of Skills for Life, including the first Literacy Class, and Advanced Tailoring (which runs on a slightly different schedule since it’s longer) will be happening on October 1.
This is a really big deal!
We made our own caps and gowns, because it’s a really big deal.
We have a big party with cake and guest speakers, because it’s a really big deal.
We have them walk up by name to receive their certificates, because it’s a really big deal.
These are girls that no one has ever celebrated. No one has ever expected them to “amount to anything” except to repeat the cycle their own mothers were cast into.
But we celebrate them, and we know you do, too. Because honestly, it’s just a really really big deal.
Thank you for supporting us in all the ways that make days like this possible. We can’t thank you enough!
Webele nyo,
Jennings
PS We have a project up to help us pull off graduation. We have 35 girls graduating this time around, a record!! If you’d like to contribute — any amount at all helps! — 100% goes to the project. Just click the button!
