The Cook Islands Women and Girls with Disabilities Organisation (CIWGDO) in partnership with the CITTI ran a ‘Sew Simple Programme’ for women with disabilities in the Cook Islands. The programme which ran for 9 weeks supported and builds the capacity of women with disabilities participating to sew scarfs, skirts, dress, tops, shorts and other types of garments that will enable them to earn sustainable income. While the programme focuses on building technical skills for these women with disabilities, it also teaches them to live independently by supporting them to develop personal plans for their lives and safe use of the public transportation.
The Cook Islands Women and Girls with Disabilities Organisation (CIWGDO) in partnership with the CITTI ran a ‘Sew Simple Programme’ for women with disabilities in the Cook Islands. The programme which ran for 9 weeks supported and builds the capacity of women with disabilities participating to sew scarfs, skirts, dress, tops, shorts and other types of garments that will enable them to earn sustainable income. While the programme focuses on building technical skills for these women with disabilities, it also teaches them to live independently by supporting them to develop personal plans for their lives and safe use of the public transportation.
The programme now enabled participants to engage in other activities apart from the usual routines, participating in society on equal basis with others and earning a living that enable them to live independently. One such participant is Anna. Anna is a 41 years old woman with disabilities who suffers occasional seizures since she was 9 years old. Before joining the program Anna stays home doing all the chores at home, raking rubbish and cleaning up their yard.
While, at home Anna has this passion for sewing, hence, she joined the ‘Sew Single Programme’.
Through the programme, Anna learnt how to sew a scarf, skirt, dress, top and shorts using an electrical machine. Furthermore, as part of the programme with the assistance and support of the Employment Coordinator at CIWGDO, Anna is now in the process of completing her personal plan at the CIWGDO office. She is currently, independently travelling from her home to the CIWGDO office daily and using an electrical sewing machine to earn income from her home, selling what she sew.
She is also earning enough money to buy her own machine and through the CIWGDO she is currently paying instalments of $20 per week for her sewing machine.
Anna has enjoyed the program so much she is eagerly waiting for the next phase of the program to start in August to further develop her sewing skills. The programme has provided her the chance to make a difference in her life by earning income through sewing garments.
CIWGDO and the Cook Islands National Disability Council (CINDC) plans to engage more women with disabilities through such activities organised by the two DPOs.