Dozens of refugee women recruited to sewing program that emphasizes hope and independence
Sewing Hope can support up to 120 women in the next two years
A local St. John's business owner is set on making the dreams of refugee women come true, and now has the funding to make it happen.
The Sewing Hope program provides training and English lessons to women living in Newfoundland and Labrador who were forced to flee their home countries, and are now trying to get a foot into the local labour market.
"Many of them lose their hope in the journey," said Constanza Safatle, founder and CEO of Newbornlander, a company that makes and markets clothes for young children.
"They need to rebuild that. This is just a stepping stone."
Safatle received $740,000 from the Northpine Foundation in October and then $260,000 from the provincial government in late November for her program, which will be delivered over two years.
According to Northpine Foundation's website, in the past 10 years, around 4,800 refugees resettled in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the majority in St. John's.
But for many women, established training in construction and agriculture may not align with their interests.
Another problem is language. Safatle, who said she interviewed almost five dozen women to hear what they need, found that many couldn't do the interview in English, despite living in the province for years.
"They feel shame," she said. "Your children learn English, your husband will be get a job faster and you stay there at home.
"It's not fair. They have a lot of potential."
She said the women she interviewed told her they get support in learning English for free, just enough to pass their citizenship exam. After that, they are on their own.
Eyes on the dream
English lessons provided through the Sewing Hope program are unique, she said. They are tailored around their dreams.
During the interviews for the first cohort of the program, which goes for six months, Safatle said she was looking for ambition — to find those who carry a dream and the willingness to make it happen.
Downstairs from the main Newbornlander storefront, the rhythm of working needles has stopped. Geraldine Pacheco takes a seat in a different room with the rest of the women, to listen to the English instructor.
Pacheco arrived only a few months ago in St. John's with her husband and two small children from Venezuela through a humanitarian aid visa.
She is focused, and is picking up the words for fabric, buttons, belts, zippers and the objects she will use for her dream: her own sewing business.
Pacheco said she is open to creating anything but is particularly interested in opening a "hospital for clothes," to give clothing a new life by repairing and mending.
"It's the opportunity to not only learn, but also [to learn] business. How will you sell, how to manage in the Canadian market," said Pacheco.
She is also improving her existing sewing skills through the program, which offers training on industrial sewing machines and offers insights into the market.
Alongside the sewing and English classes, the refugee women also learn about each other. Pacheco, who escaped political turmoil in Venezuela, said she has heard stories about family members killed at war or who have escaped religious persecution.
"When you learn about the situations of other women," Pacheco said, "you form solidarity and you think 'wow, how great that I get to meet these wonderful women.'"
Through the funding, Safatle says she can support up to 120 women in the next two years. The women sew the baby clothing that Newbornlander sells, and they earn salaries.
By the end of the program, they will have the skills, work experience and enough English to take their next steps.
"I believe in them and I think nobody else did many times," said Safatle, who hopes other local business will give these women a chance.
"I feel it is an opportunity for this community to see how you can do things differently short time and see the potential that these women have."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
