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Stitching Futures: The Mfangano Sewing Center
Stitching Futures: The Mfangano Sewing Center
We are launching a women’s sewing center on Mfangano Island as a hub for skills training, income generation, and community care. We have hired two local seamstresses to train an initial cohort of 12 women in sewing and basic tailoring. Thanks to our generous donors, the center is equipped with seven sewing machines, a button machine, and all of the essential tools and supplies needed to run a fully functional workshop. We are proud to partner with the Sagrema Foundation, a grassroots community-based organization on Mfangano that focuses on healthcare, education, food security, and women and youth empowerment across the island. Together, we are building a space where women can gain practical skills and long-term economic independence.
The three-month training program begins with learning simple patterns on paper and developing strong foundational skills before moving on to fabric. In line with our commitment to sustainability, we will practice using mitumba sheets, secondhand textiles imported into Kenya that are often part of a growing stream of fast-fashion waste, to give new life to existing fabric and reduce demand for new materials. The skills learned in this center will benefit the women for a lifetime: they will sew reusable menstrual pads to distribute free of charge to girls in the community, and they will make dresses, school uniforms, and other garments to help support themselves and their families. Over time, sales from these items will allow the shop to become fully self-sufficient and community-run. For the most up-to-date progress, stories, and photos from the sewing center, be sure to check our Instagram.
Supplies
Supplies
Training Schedule
Training Schedule
Our dedicated seamstresses, Brenda Adhiambo and Emily Aoko, developed this three-month training schedule in collaboration with Samuel Odoyo, the head of the Sagrema Foundation. Together, they designed a program that is structured, practical, and responsive to the realities women face on Mfangano. We have also introduced incentives for our seamstresses who excel in their teaching and leadership by increasing their salaries each month, and we are actively working toward additional benefits for the trainees beyond free instruction. Our goal is to help ease the financial and emotional burden of taking time away from their families to train, so that each woman can fully participate, learn, and grow without added stress.
Three-Month Sewing & Reusable Pad Training Schedule
Three-Month Sewing & Reusable Pad Training Schedule
Month 1 – Foundations & Paper Patterns (Weeks 1–4)
Week 1 – Orientation & Introduction to Sewing
Welcome, program overview, and expectations.
Introduction to the two trainers and the 12 trainees.
Basic safety in the sewing center (machines, needles, irons, storage).
Overview of the three-month goal: reusable pads, dresses, and uniforms.
Week 2 – Hand Sewing Basics
Introduction to hand stitching: running stitch, backstitch, hemming.
Proper use of needles, thread, pins, and measuring tools.
Practice stitching on paper and scrap materials to build confidence and precision.
Week 3 – Paper Pattern Reading & Drawing
Introduction to what a “pattern” is and why it matters.
Learning to read simple paper patterns (labels, grain lines, notches).
Drawing and cutting basic shapes on paper for pads and simple garments.
Pair work: practicing accurate cutting and following pattern outlines.
Week 4 – Simple Pattern Assembly (on Paper)
Assembling complete pad and dress/uniform shapes using only paper.
Practicing seam allowance, folding, and “mock sewing” with paper to learn construction steps.
Review and assessment of basic skills; identifying women who may need extra support.
Month 2 – Sustainable Materials & Reusable Pad Design (Weeks 5–8)
Week 5 – Introduction to Mitumba Sheets & Sustainability
Discussion: what mitumba is (secondhand textiles imported into Kenya) and how fast fashion impacts local markets, waste streams, and the environment.
Selecting, washing, and preparing mitumba sheets for reuse.
Sorting fabrics by thickness, softness, and suitability for pads vs clothing.
Week 6 – Machine Introduction & Maintenance
Parts of the sewing machine and how they work.
Turning the machine on/off, threading the machine, winding bobbins.
Basic maintenance: cleaning, oiling, and safe storage of the seven sewing machines and button machine.
Guided practice sewing straight lines and simple seams on scrap mitumba fabric.
Week 7 – Reusable Pad Prototypes
Reviewing the paper pad patterns and transferring them onto mitumba sheets.
Cutting pad components (top layer, absorbent core, backing).
Sewing first pad prototypes on the machine with support from trainers.
Discussion of comfort, durability, and absorbency; adjusting patterns if needed.
Week 8 – Refining Pad Design & Quality Control
Standardizing pad sizes and shapes for comfort and reusability.
Adding buttons/snaps or fastenings using the button machine.
Introducing simple quality checks: secure seams, even stitching, no loose threads.
Preparing a small first batch of usable pads.
Month 3 – Production, Garments & Self-Sufficient Shop (Weeks 9–12)
Week 9 – Scaling Up Pad Production
Organizing work into small teams (cutting, sewing, finishing).
Planning regular pad production for free distribution to girls in the community.
Recording how many pads are made, by whom, and where they will be distributed.
Week 10 – Simple Dresses & Uniforms
Returning to paper dress/uniform patterns and transferring them onto fabric.
Cutting and sewing simple dresses or school uniforms using mitumba sheets or other donated fabric.
Practicing fittings, adjustments, and finishing techniques (hems, buttons).
Week 11 – Business Skills & Shop Management
Introduction to basic record-keeping: materials used, items produced, and sales.
Talking through pricing, budgeting, and how sales of dresses and uniforms can support the women and keep the sewing center running.
Discussing roles and responsibilities for managing a community sewing shop.
Week 12 – Review, Graduation & Future Plans
Final review of skills: pattern reading, machine use, pad making, and garment construction.
Each woman completes a “final project”: a set of reusable pads and at least one garment.
Group reflection on how these skills will support their families and community.
Planning next steps: ongoing production, free pad distributions, and income generation from dresses and uniforms.
Celebration and informal “graduation” to recognize the women’s accomplishments.
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