A Life-Changing Journey
I was initially
approached about the trip to Tanzania primarily because of my background in
design and product development. I have traveled several times to Africa
representing various organizations working in villages with women in developing
products that they could sell to become more self reliant. I was especially
excited about this trip as this was with St. Lukes and it would be the first
time for me in an orphange working with children.
Before we left, I learned
that Angel House had received a donation of sewing machines, and the children
were interested in learning to sew to make things that could be sold to
visitors and/or possibly in our Connections Books & Gifts here at St. Luke’s.
So I packed my limited bag (31lb limit) with aprons, napkins, pillow cases,
scissors, thread, etc., hyped up with all the things that I was going to teach
them to make.
We arrived at the orphanage
and took a tour, and then I saw them…the sewing machines piled up in the corner.
And then I discovered that there were no lights in the room we would be working
in, and the machines were the old-fashioned trundle machines that are worked
with your feet, which I don’t know how to use. I was also told that there were only
3 people that knew how to sew and they were away at college.
My expectations and
plans had to quickly change. I realized that my list of projects was not
happening. I decided that we could make a few stoles for the ministers at home,
and that we could make hair scrunches. The scrunchies would incorporate a few
sewing steps and skill sets. Cutting, sewing elastic etc. We went to the
market, bought fabric and created a plan to work with the children after they
returned from school.
During the day while
the other kids were in school, I was surrounded by a few boys who were very
interested in what I was doing. I asked the leaders why these boys were not in
school and I was told that the authorities had picked them up at the border and
brought them to Angel House for safe keeping. They had been rescued from a
trafficking situation. They did not speak English or Swahili, so we could only
communicate with sign language. They did not know of a scissor, tape measure or
chalk. But they truly wanted to learn the skill. They started with notebook
paper, and after they were able to follow the lines they were given fabric. I helped
guide the machine while they pumped the pedals. They were motivated, and the
project was a success - 60 hair scrunchies in 3 days!
After discussion,
we decided that when we got home, we would create a small shop within Connections
Books & Gifts that would feature items made by Angel House—starting with
hair scrunchies of course-- as well as a few other items from a woman’s sewing
cooperative in Kenya. The proceeds from this small shop will allow the
bookstore volunteers to sponsor a young boy by the name of Alvin. The village
magistrate had found Alvin abandoned in a hut, and brought him to Angel House
asking for him to have a chance. We don’t know his birthday or how old he is
but it’s somewhere around 4 years old.
This was a
life-changing trip for me. Those children who have survived so much, they will
be in my heart forever. We are excited to share with everyone at St. Luke’s
about this wonderful place called Angel House.
submitted by Cindy Veatch, Connections Books & Gifts Volunteer Manager