The hum of sewing machines, blended with the chatter of young women at Ouvroir Femmes Methodist (Women's Sewing Center), inspires smiles. Energy permeates the space as women sew tailored skirts, blouses, and other clothing.

This Center is located in Kamina in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an area plagued by poor maternal health, single motherhood, and poverty. It provides training for young girls and women to become entrepreneurs and contributors to their communities. The students are taught a variety of skills: tailoring, soap making, household management, and vegetable planting.

The students include young girls who didn’t complete school and women rebuilding their lives from trauma or abusive relationships. Students also include women who never worked outside the home and depended on their husbands for financial support.

Director Mujing Mwad Honoring has a goal of establishing one center in each district of the North Katanga Annual Conference in the D.R. Congo.

Graduates of the program are given a sewing machine to have a business of their own. These women become empowered, become role models, and contribute to the growth of their communities.

Each sewing machine costs $110. Already, Lewis Center United Methodist Church in the West Ohio Conference has been a supporter of this ministry.

To support this ministry, send a check to West Ohio Conference, Attn. Mariellyn Grace, 32 Wesley Blvd, Worthington, OH 43085 with “NK Sewing Ministry” in the Memo line. To give online, click here, choose “Wherever Need is Greatest” in the dropdown box and note “Women’s Sewing Center” in the Honoree section. For more information, contact Mariellyn Grace at mgrace@wocumc.org.

Written by Amy Graham, Freelance Writer for West Ohio Communications