One of the major things that Durian is committed to, is seeing that those who live in rural communities become empowered. We also want to see that these communities become hubs from innovation and enterprise development. To ensure that this dream comes true we engage communities in training.
As part of the leadership training that we started in February 2018, we included training the participants on how to make bags from Fabric waste. Because they knew we didn’t have sewing machines in the office in Imafon, they went as far as Ilado community to speak to the person in charge of the Ilado vocational training center. At the training center, they had access to sewing machines. They are passionate, committed and willing to learn.
This training was done with the support of Miss Ajigbotoluwa Divine from Diviyem concepts. She taught the participants how to make backpacks of different sizes.
We are glad about the outcome of the training. Now they can make school bags for their children, teach others to make it and also sell as a source of income. On the 16th of March, we had an exhibition of the products made by our beneficiaries. And on the same day, one of the women made 3us$ from the sales of a bag she made. We look forward to setting up a workspace with at least 2 sewing machines where they can continue making school bags from fabric and fabric waste.