Premi Roopan and Nthabiseng Tom have found a way to empower women through sewing. They teach a group of 30 women how to sew at a small centre based at the clinic. The centre has been in operation for five years. Attendance certificates were handed out on the day of the year-end party and the women modelled the outfits that they had made.
“Some of these women are from impoverished backgrounds in Alexandra, some are patients at the clinic, many of them don’t work and others are pensioners,” said Roopan. “We have given them a place to acquire a new skill and many of them use it to generate money for themselves and their families.”
She added that the centre had produced a number of qualified women who now teach others to sew and they make money from it.
The Gambling Board has also assisted the centre by donating sowing machines for the students. “Because of the Gambling Board, many of our students have done very well,” she said. “We need all the help that we can get to keep this centre going.”
Hilda Mvulane of the Health Information System Innovation Campaign said, “Nothing like this has been initiated at any other clinic,” she said. “It’s a first of its kind and the City of Johannesburg intends to enter this initiative into a competition that acknowledges entrepreneurs because this truly is an act of entrepreneurship at its best.”
She congratulated Roopan and Tom for their efforts and a lunch followed to end off the celebration.
Details: Premi Roopan; 072 750 0375
