The Mfangano Sewing Center

We launched 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 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.

Progress and Training

We are proud to share that we have trained 12 full-time seamstresses on all of the essential skills required to make clothes and run a small business. Additionally, we have had many women and girls in our workshops and shorter training sessions on breaks from school and work. 

Of these seamstresses, 4 have left our sewing center to establish their own businesses, working from home to carry out domestic labor as well. The remaining 8 continue to sew in the sewing center, making reusable menstrual pad kits, uniforms, and clothes that they can sell for profit. As we continue to fund fabric for these projects, we hope to eventually introduce a new class to train more women on this valuable skill. 

Our skilled seamstresses have made 180 period kits to keep girls in their community in school. Their hard work and dedication to these children continues to inspire us.