The story so far…
The Ann Hay Vocational Training centre is a very busy place! Students are learning to sew, crochet, and make soap from the materials donated by Clean Conscience. They are also weaving. Weaving has been a traditional skill in Sierra Leone for centuries, but has been dying out in recent years, so this weaving revival in Taiama is very significant. It also produces beautiful results, as the picture shows. Tie dyeing is another ancient tradition. In Sierra Leone, it is called Gara, based on the local name for the indigo which is native to West Africa.
Progress so far…
For some time, the women have wanted a separate area for the weaving, and tie dyeing. They also needed somewhere where they could sell the finished products. Until now they have had to hang clothes on coat hangers from the verandah of the Ann Hay centre.
Now things will be changing! The members of Soroptimist international West Midlands Region have donated money to construct and plaster a women’s room for this. It is at the back of the library, and has a tin roof and proper beams. It will also need to have metal gates, to prevent curious goats from coming in to eat whatever they can find! Painting will have to wait till the rains stop, but the ladies are not waiting for that, and the room is already in use.
Onwards and upwards
So what will they be selling? There are clothes made from the beautiful tie dyed fabric. The charity which provided the soap making machine, Clean Conscience, sent some window curtain material, which is being made into very stylish suits for gentlemen. The women have also been given the contract to sew school uniforms for students in Taiama Secondary School and the Bob Simson Technical School in Bai Largo. This is a huge achievement and is another example of the initiative shown by the people of Kori.
