SEW

SEW - Supporting and Empowering Women - is an Arusha based organisation that helps HIV positive women support themselves and their families by providing employment. The women make bags of all sorts - shopping bags, smaller hand bags, passport covers and pencil cases - from recycled flour and rice bags, hessian and kitenge. The bags are exported for sale to Melbourne and other places around the world.

AVIs with Jackie, SEW's manager

Each bag comes with a note explaining the circumstances of the woman who sewed the bag. My bag was made by Albina, a 35 year old widow supporting a daughter. Employment at SEW allows her to pay her rent and take care of her family.

AVI Allison and Hadija

The organisation is seeking new contracts all the time - it is currently making prototypes of denim cushion covers from recycled denim for a Danish company.

SEW is one of many small NGOs that can really make a difference to disadvantaged women and children in Tanzania. The AVIs who visited the workshop today were really pleased to be able to support the women who work there by buying bags.