Forty women from across the Northern Region have enrolled in the latest cohort of the Foundation's flagship tailoring and sewing program, set to graduate in mid-2025.
El Chay Foundation welcomed 40 women to the newest cohort of its Vocational Tailoring & Sewing program, marking another milestone in the Foundation's mission to empower women through practical skills.
The cohort, drawn from communities across Mzuzu, Rumphi, and Nkhata Bay, will undergo six months of intensive training in tailoring, garment construction, pattern-making, and small business management.
The 40 participants range in age from 18 to 42. Many are mothers seeking to supplement household income; others are young women who could not access formal employment. All were selected through a community-based application process that prioritised candidates from low-income households.
"I have always wanted to learn how to sew, but I could never afford the training," said one participant from Rumphi. "This program has opened a door I thought was closed forever."
Over six months, participants learn basic and advanced stitching techniques, pattern reading and garment construction, machine maintenance and repair, pricing and customer service, and how to register and run a small tailoring business.
Each participant receives a sewing machine for use during training, and graduates receive a starter kit including thread, needles, fabric, and a basic tool set.
Since 2015, the Vocational Tailoring & Sewing program has trained over 480 women and youth. Of those graduates, 78% are employed or self-employed within six months of completing the program, and over 120 small tailoring businesses have been started by graduates.
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