Quilts
A Uganda young woman went to British Columbia, Canada, in 2008-9 in the MCC IVEP program. There she volunteered in the MCC quilting room and learned to sew quilts. When she returned to Uganda she formed a women’s group at her church and taught them to quilt. Her objective was to create strong families who work for peace in the community and develop practical skills through handwork. We were able to briefly meet this group recently. (Rain was threatening and we had traveled on very bad dirt roads so we stayed only a short time.)
The women were very enthusiastic about the project and have learned more than just quilting. They are learning from each other and are helping each other. One woman said, “My house was falling down but the women came to me and asked me to join their group. They said they would help me rebuild my house and they did. I learned how to make grass mats. I didn’t know before.”
Another woman said, “The woman invited me to join their group but I told them I needed to work in my garden. They said they would help me and they did. Now I know how to quilt.”
They are quilting, making baskets, weaving mats, embroidering. They hope to soon sell their products to help orphans and their own children go to school.
