Join Hunters Humble Hands are Sew Powerful Chapter each month on the 4th Tuesday at Hunters Quilt Mart in this heartfelt sewing project that can truly change lives! We need sewers and we would love to have you!
The purses you make will be gifted to school girls in the African country of Zambia. The purses will be the delivery device filled with reusable feminine hygiene supplies, soap, and underwear so the girl can attend school all month. Sew Powerful hires adults in Zambia living in extreme poverty. They are trained and paid a living wage to make the contents of the purses. The result is a triple benefit:
Sew Powerful Purse Sew Day - 4th Tuesday
- Schoolgirls have a chance to excel in their studies and complete their education.
- Adults earn wages to feed, clothe, and house their families, giving them dignity and hope.
- Volunteers use their talents to make purses bringing them immeasurable joy knowing their efforts have changed lives.
Information on other areas that Sew Powerful helps in.
SOAP: Sew Powerful supports a soap cooperative with 3 or 4 ladies who work making the soap. All the soap is made in the Ngombe (no-m-bay) Compound (neighborhood), the poorest area in the Zambian capital city of Lusaka. Many soap manufacturers produce soap in the area and frequently give Sew Powerful the soap scraps from cutting their soap into uniform bars for retail sales. Usually, the scrap soap (shavings, small odd sizes, end of run left-overs, etc.) is provided at no cost to us other than to pick it up. The soap scraps, from several brands and manufacturers are melted together in outdoor cauldrons over an open fire. The soap is cooled in large, thick (~3") sheets, then cut by hand into cubes (roughly 3"x3"x3"). The soap is used for laundry (e.g., cleaning the pads and clothing) but could also be used for bathing and hand washing. Soap is a rare commodity to the poorest of the poor so this is a real bonus for the girls to get a bar of soap. If it is available, girls living near the soap cooperative can request replacement soap.
UNDERWEAR: Sew Powerful provides two pairs of underwear in every purse we distribute. The underwear is part of the $10/purse expense covered through financial donations to Sew Powerful. We started adding underwear to the purses for two reasons - 1- Most girls only had one pair of underwear (some had none) and 2- the pads snap around the crotch of the panties so underwear is required to use the feminine hygiene pads we provide.
Here is a video about the purse distribution you might find helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CoESHdb0ZQ
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Skill Details: | General sewing knowledge and following pattern instructions. |
| Materials Included: | Web strapping for purses. Printed pattern. |
| Requirements: | Please bring 3 coordinating fat quarters, 1/3 yard iron-on interfacing, sewing machine, 2 wound bobbins, small iron, scissors, pin or clips. Call the shop or email to reserve a sewing machine. |
| Instructor: | Jerri Manning |
| Instructor Bio: | Jerri has been making purses for the Sew Powerful organization for some time and was inspired to start a chapter for Sew Powerful in her region. She meets on the 4th Tuesday at Hunters Quilt Mart to help guide others in making purses, also. She is knowledgeable about the organization and the good that it brings the women and girls in the Zambia area. |
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You may want to bring a personal snack or lunch. Bottle water provided.
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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.