Sewing Machines – Covid-19 update – July 2020

For the past 15 years we have been running a regular sewing machine repair workshop in Crickhowell and lately in Abergavenny. Over 1600 machines have been restored to their former glory to date; hand and treadle machines, plus electric zig zag and embroidery machines.

Sadly, because of the Corona Virus Pandemic we have had to close the workshop permanently because we cannot maintain any sort of social distancing or bio security in the small Portacabin that was our workshop.

All is not lost however.  We have trained 8 “fundis” (expert mecanics) in Tanzania. All of the tools and stocks of spares will be shipped to our workshop in Mwanza together with hundreds of unrefurbished machines. There, they will be serviced and put into tip top condition.

The big advantage once the operation is established is that the machines can be distributed when needed rather than the tailors having to wait for up to a year or more for them to arrive.

The second advantage is that the artisans in Tanzania will become much more “Self Reliant” !

Our Sewing Machine Co-ordinator – Alec Rix – will still be staying with us and in charge of our storage Depot, making sure that we send suitable machines and giving advice.

There is a possibility that we may be able to start a small local sewing machine repair service – watch this space!

We still need many more sewing machines – keep those donations coming !

The Amani Tailoring Group in Tanga Region, is one of the many groups that have received sewing machines.  Jennifer Clements was one of five trainees with the group.

She stayed for two years with the group and has now returned to her village – where she has been given a machine so that she can make use of her newly learnt skills, earn an income and provide tailor’s services in the village.  There is plenty of demand for these machines, and plenty of work for them as soon as they arrive.