Ukraine Refugee Training – a big success !

Our sewing training program for Ukrainian refugees in Sydney has been a great success.

The program was held at the Ukraine Church Hall in Granville over 10 days, from 20/2/23 to 4/3/23. Five  of our wonderful volunteers teachers, taught eleven Ukrainian  women sewing techniques at all levels.  During the program the students made a wide assortment of items, from basic children’s clothes, to beautiful bags and purses to magnificent dresses.

SewAid supplied all the sewing machines and equipment which will remain as a permanent fixture in the hall, for all refugees to come and sew. Initially the hall will be opened for this every Friday, but later they hope to increase this to three days a week. Also plans are in place for further training programs, including a quilting  course. So we are very pleased with the sustainable prospects of this program.

In addition to the students learning a whole range of sewing skills, these ladies also had the opportunity to escape some of the difficult life situations that they have such as husbands and brothers still fighting in the Ukraine. All the ladies  did not know each other at the start, but after two weeks together  they formed close friendships.

Many thanks to our amazing volunteer teachers, some who have given over 100 volunteer hours to this program. Our teachers were Glenda Bones our SewAid head teacher,  Vera Liondas SewAid teachers and Rotarian, Tina Latham SewAid teacher and Rotarian, Sheila McDowell , and Michelle Lewis who joined us as a SewAid teachers for the first time.

We would like to particularly  thank Christina Caldis of the Ukrainian Art therapy and Cultural Centre , for all her hard work in arranging the premises and recruiting all the refugee students, and also the Parish of St Aphanasius, and the orthodox Church of Granville for making the hall available to us, and also thanks to the Ukrainian Council of NSW who enthusiastically endorsed the program.

Tony Castley SewAid.

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