The Sewing School and The Grace Bag
July 30th, 2008“Situations seem hopeless, but there is always hope with God.”
Margaret Woollett
What good can come from a group of old, treadle powered Singer sewing machines in one of the poorest corners of the world? In the hands of Margaret Woollett, these machines and some colorful material have become the stuff that hope is made of!
As a wife and mother living in New Zealand, Margaret wasn’t always a seamstress, but when her husband left her with small children to support, she taught herself how to sew in order to make a living. Half a lifetime has passed, and she is now half a world away, in northern Mozambique.
Margaret is now a woman with a mission: she is training widows to sew! The term “widow” in this part of the world refers to any woman who has been abandoned, in one way or another. Because they have no means of support, no trade, and no education, these mothers are left without hope.
“These women have no one who cares about them. It [the sewing program] has brought new life, hope, and health for these women and their children,” she says.
What began with 15 women, shy and unsure of their skills and abilities, has grown into a program that allows 75 women to learn a trade and earn a living with pride. One of the products the women create is a colorful purse!With little existing market for the purses in their home country, MMDR is developing a micro economic program in conjunction with the women at Margaret’s sewing school. MMDR will buy the purses at over 20 times the cost to produce them, and then we will sell them, with the additional profit returning to be invested in the women. For example, the profit may be used to hire those same women to make clothes for the local orphanage. This reinvestment, on top of the initial price of the purses, gives the women continual employment, self confidence, and a pride in the role that they play in their community.
“This project is not a hand out, it is a hand up! My goal is that eventually, the women will be able to teach other women this skill,” Margaret commented.
Why is a medical nonprofit venturing into micro economics? Helping people get healthy is one component of success. If you are no longer sick, but can’t feed your family, the cycle of illness and poverty continues.
“We have laid a foundation for health. But beyond the crisis, we must help build sustainable health,” said Dr. David Vanderpool, Medical Director of MMDR. A steady income will help provide nutrition, which effects long term health and in turn, the very life of this community. We can help provide the components that will free these women to make a better life for themselves and the next generation.
The Grace Bag:
We are very excited about this new venture and will be giving you more information about our lovely purses very soon! They are tentatively being called “The Grace Bag” after a child from the village named Gracienda, and as a reminder of the grace that God bestows on each of us when he redeems our lives. The purses will be available SOON at two locations: on our website, www.mmdr.org, and at Lave MD, Dr. Vanderpool’s office in Brentwood, Tennessee. To inquire about carrying the purses in your store or place of business, please contact Karen at contact@mmdr.org.
About Us:
Mobile Medical Disaster Relief is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fulfilling the medical needs of the vulnerable and underserved people in the US and throughout the world. It is our desire to partner with local entities to alleviate suffering wherever the doors open for us to serve.
We are compelled to action by 1 John 3:17 which says,
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
At MMDR Our motivation is our faith.Our mission is medical.
How to Participate:
Would you like to know more about MMDR, or contribute to our work? Please visit our website at www.mmdr.org.
Contact Us:
You can always contact us by email at contact@mmdr.org