Here is another of #ourownstories from a rural tailor. The butterfly he mentions is an inexpensive clone of a fine old Singer made in China but roughly made with very poor tolerances and performance. They are very common in Tanzania but not very popular. We get very few overlockers donated but the next container already has four packed.

#ktss #ktss #KeepThemSingersSinging

I respect my sewing machine more than anything else! I got this machine from TFSR/SIDO project two years ago. We were only five tailor groups who managed to get the machines although each group received only one.  I used to have a butterfly machine before but it was not good at all. Every week I had to consult a fundi but even though the machine was tired and very slow. Now I have this one from the project – very strong and fast! I am so confident with this machine that I accepted an order to make children uniforms for our nearby school. Such types of work give me good income. By the way do you have over lock in your project? That machine could be very useful but we have only one which moves around the five groups! And its old. You know, I had my marriage ceremony two months ago and I made all the wedding garments myself, using this machine and a hired over lock.

I have my friend Derick who did not get machine when you came. As you can see he is using a butterfly which is so difficult to operate that at times he put off his shirt. If you can also provide him with a machine like the one I am using we will both be happy.

I have a plan to extend our office so that we can also accommodate some trainees including my two young sisters. As you know these days there is no employment so when we get such opportunity of self-employment we go for it.

Faustine Magere, a member of Tuinuane (let us lift each other) Group from Kilimani village, Chato, Geita