Tatu Rafiki
Three years ago Team Vista took under our ‘banner’ three wonderful deaf tailors – Tatu Rafiki which means three friends. Polcaripy Mwacha his wife and her sister Merceline Selestin and Merycedesi Selestin. .
We set up a workshop for them at Haria Hotel and they quickly started sewing – the usual touristy type clothing such as Katanga bags, happy pants and simple dresses. As time went by, their reputation grew and they were making shirts and skirts for tourists that came to stay at Haria.
Local people also started to come by. They started to make beautiful patchwork quilts for teachers at The International School as well as curtains, laptop bags, purses and jackets.
Two of our young girls who failed Primary school are learning the skills of tailoring with Tatu Rafiki.
They have also taught one of our young girls how to make the “Girls Day Packs” (washable fabric pads for their periods)
We are no longer at Haria Hotel so Tatu Rafiki are on their own. They have rented two shops with our help, employed two more ‘deaf’ casual staff plus our own Team Vista girls. They receive orders for their clothing and other products from Canada as well as from the Netherlands. They also supply us with their products to sell at WOMAD in Adelaide and at the monthly Hawthorn Makers Markets in Melbourne.
We are so proud of Tatu Rafiki. Without the support of Team Vista they would not have had the opportunity to develop a business for themselves.
We set up a workshop for them at Haria Hotel and they quickly started sewing – the usual touristy type clothing such as Katanga bags, happy pants and simple dresses. As time went by, their reputation grew and they were making shirts and skirts for tourists that came to stay at Haria.
Local people also started to come by. They started to make beautiful patchwork quilts for teachers at The International School as well as curtains, laptop bags, purses and jackets.
Two of our young girls who failed Primary school are learning the skills of tailoring with Tatu Rafiki.
They have also taught one of our young girls how to make the “Girls Day Packs” (washable fabric pads for their periods)
We are no longer at Haria Hotel so Tatu Rafiki are on their own. They have rented two shops with our help, employed two more ‘deaf’ casual staff plus our own Team Vista girls. They receive orders for their clothing and other products from Canada as well as from the Netherlands. They also supply us with their products to sell at WOMAD in Adelaide and at the monthly Hawthorn Makers Markets in Melbourne.
We are so proud of Tatu Rafiki. Without the support of Team Vista they would not have had the opportunity to develop a business for themselves.
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