How Tatu Rafiki & the Upendo women’s group are sewing themselves a brighter future!
To empower is to make someone stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights. Empowerment is a concept close to the core of Team Vista’s overarching principle. Our aim is to help empower those less fortunate to build positive, sustainable futures for them selves, by giving them a hand up, not a hand out. In effort to empower the community of Moshi, Team Vista have helped 7 women off the dump by establishing the Upendo women’s group, who have recently started working closely with our legally deaf master sewing group, ‘Tatu Rafiki’. Tatu Rafiki is a group of talented, determined and dedicated sewers who have come together because of a handicap and created a bond over a shared passion for creativity. Due to the corrupt nature of some of Africa’s poorer areas like Moshi, a more affluent ‘mentor’ exploited these skilled craftsmen and women. They were overworked and underpaid. They were unable to provide for their families. Their families disowned them and they were left to fend for themselves. The name ‘Tatu Rafiki’ means “three friends” in the group’s native, Swahili, and they are a real story of triumph. Tatu Rafiki, are trained in tailoring and business and have become mentors for Team Vista’s Upendo women’s group, helping them improve upon their very modest sewing skills and empowering them to create a sustainable life for themselves away from the rubbish dump, thanks to a generous donation from Adelaide Torrens Zonta group. Tatu Rafiki work from Haria Hotel creating traditional batik, clothing and bags, which are then bought at a fair trade price by Team Vista and sold in the local community, as well as Australia. They have come up with their own business plan for their ventures, an empowering step to creating a more comfortable and sustainable future for themselves and their families. Thank you for all your support that allows us to help empower such a courageous community! Watch this space to hear more about the creative ventures of these two inspirational groups.  This is Siadi. He is one of our sponsored children from Moshi. Saidi has just finished his schooling and is now off to Health College, a stepping stone to his dream of being a heart surgeon.
This is just one of many amazing stories, where children living in poverty receive educational opportunities and a chance at a new life. To all our donors and supporters of Team Vista, THANK YOU! You truly are making a difference. |
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