FIRST PRODUCT OF TAILORING

A success story!  As we step into the third year, these 35 women who did not know how to even hold a needle and do a running stitch, 8 of them are now proficient in using the sewing machine.  They meet 5 times a week for 2 hours. They go to the field and finish their work from dawn to 2 p.m. and then come to the class and go home by 5 p.m. to do their household chores.  Remarkable work by teacher Janaki and manager Swamy.  First batch of skirt and blouse sets is mainly for Sponsors. Plans will be made to market these in Indian stores.

Modeling in these outfits are USA based sponsors:  (L-R) Bella and Eva, grand-daughters of Investor Pastor Franklin David, Tulsi and Krisha, daughters of Bindu Rajendran, Kaitlyn Ammukutty, niece of Sponsor Sherly Abraham, Diya and Maya, daughters of Nalini Britto. 

Click on the picture below for an enlarged view.

FREE TAILORING CLASSES FOR DESTITUTE WOMEN

Recruitment Women under 40 who do not have any financial support, who work for daily wages of Rs. 100 ($2) per day in the field, who are either widows or divorced or abandoned, were recruited in 2010.  Today there are 9 sewing machines and they are able to make their own blouses.  Originally they were recruited to pay Rs. 80 a month to instill responsibility, but that became difficult, so now it is free classes. Ms. Janaki is the teacher. All of them are enthusiastic.  Some ladies from the neighboring villages pay for share-auto to attend these classes.

Blouse Display Feb 2013 when Dr. Thambi Thomas visited the site, these ladies brought their blouses to display.

2013 Pongal Celebrations This year they wanted to celebrate Pongal so they made a huge pot of biriyani, had contests and games.  A gala time indeed!  Expenses were borne by  Kalaaksharam.

New Sewing Machines were inaugurated by Rev. Franklin David www.sasdac.org.

Previously Vijayan Chinnappan, an SDA lay evangelist, provided used sewing machines which became obsolete and had to be frequently repaired. Thanks to our Donors and Sponsors, new sewing machines were  purchased.

First Sewing Class. In 2011 the first class was inaugurated by Mme Soucila Latour of France, also a personal friend of Albana Thomas.

Most ladies did not even know how to hold a needle and do a running stitch.

Why the name ALBANA?  Named after Rani’s mother Albana Thomas who supported Pastor S. Thomas in Evangelism and was known as missionkaramma for her generosity.  Married at age 15 and a mother of 4 girls at age 20, she would sew clothes to not only generate an income but to keep awake during nights when her husband was away on the field. She was fondly called as ‘missionkaramma’, a woman with a mission. Even at age 85 Albana made baby dresses for Elizabeth Morlock, Arul and Kirubai Williams. Tailoring was more than a hobby, a skill she passed on to Rani who made her own clothes since age 13 (see picture first blouse).  When Rani came to USA in 1979, within the first 2 weeks she put together the money she had and bought a Kenmore sewing machine for $199, and a bag of fabric bits for $2, and tailored shirts and suits for her 7 month-old son, Swithin.