Thursday 5 October 2017

Bowes WI's sewing mission to help deprived children in Africa

WOMEN in Bowes have embarked on a sewing mission to help dress deprived children in Africa.

Bowes Women’s Institute held a sewing bee last week at the Ancient Unicorn during which dresses and shorts were created for young boys and girls. 

The session was organised as part of the Little Dresses for Africa project, a non-profit Christian organisation which was founded in 2008.

WI member Jackie Seddon said: “The dresses are going to little girls in orphanages or to severely disadvantaged children to make them feel more comfortable, more valued and help boost their self-esteem.

“Having heard about the project I thought perhaps we could do something. I had a word with our committee and they said yes. We do a lot in the community but we need to be outward looking too.”

A drop-in session was held earlier in the month and people donated bolts of fabric, lengths of ribbon and hundreds of buttons.

Members of the WI also got to work with the cutting out of the dresses.

Members were given free use of a room at the Ancient Unicorn again for the sewing session as well as a complimentary buffet lunch. General manager Lesley Sutherland said: “We thought it was a brilliant idea. It is part of the community and it is all for a great cause.”

The group hoped to make around 30 dresses during the session as well as shorts for young boys.

WI member Jennifer Bainbridge, who was helping to make the dresses, said: “We have so much material we could go on forever. Every dress is going to be unique.”

The items of clothing will be distributed to those in need by churches in Africa.

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