“Can you teach me to sew?”
-C. Niang
That simple question led to the creation of the Make Welcome Sewing Classes. In the summer of 2013 in a small apartment in east Charlotte, a group of five Burmese refugee women and three volunteer teachers met for the first time. They began learning to sew and building friendships. More volunteers cared for the children in the adjoining room. Each week tables were set up, sewing machines and supplies carried in and lessons continued.
Fast forward to January 2016 … after moving classes to a nearby church, increasing to two classes a week and ten students, and continuing to set up and take down each week, Make Welcome was invited to move to a classroom space at the Project 658 center.
The move to the Project 658 Center and the subsequent incorporation of Make Welcome as a program under the Project 658 501(c)3 umbrella has enabled the program to grow in exciting ways. The number of classes offered and students served has increased. Four classes each week serve a total of 32 students and the waiting list is still long!
Both Essential Sewing Skills (beginner) classes and Continuing Skills classes are offered each week. Students learn the basics of sewing through instruction and project sewing in our Essential Sewing Skills class. Then they have the opportunity to hone their skills and learn new techniques in our Continuing Skills classes.
A team of committed volunteers are key to the success of our sewing classes.
Our Sewing Machine Sponsorship Program is offered to each student that attends class. This program enables them to earn a sewing machine through class attendance and a financial contribution on their part. To learn more about that program, visit our Sewing Machine Sponsorship page.
To learn how you can volunteer or support the growth of our program here at Project 658 through a financial donation, please visit our Get Involved page.