Rags to Riches

A typical afternoon in Zanzibar, consists of countless kids playing and running to and fro the breadth and the length of a half a mile long street located in one of the smallest communities of Makati City.  Jeepeneys line up one side of the street mainly for parking and sometimes for repairs while the drivers take time to eat, rest, talk with their buddies and sometimes drink.  Teen-agers, boys, play ball on a make-shift basketball court with the goal barely hanging.  Some girls on the other hand cheer on while the others just hang around.  In the middle of the street, one can easily notice a group religiously congregating everyday.  These are mostly mothers, who arm themselves with pebbles (or any small things they can use) in their hands and with cards sitting in front of them, while listening intently to numbers being called.  Once in a while someone would holler, "Bingo!"

That's how we found Zanzibar when we first started several projects in that area.

Now, things start to change.

The jeepneys are still there along with their resting drivers.  The youth still enjoy playing basketball.  We sometimes play a game or two with them.  But aside from having a street children program, which includes feeding, educational assistance and a day care center, we now have a sewing program for the mothers.

Yes, the mothers still congregate everyday.  Same spot, same time.  But some things have changed.  They no longer hold pebbles nor cards sit in front of them.  Those have been replaced by small pieces of rags they need to fashion into circular shape, in preparation for sewing.  They still listen intently, but now for instructions and details on what they should do next.  They still holler (not really, but it's more of a softly spoken way of open discussion), one at a time to share what's in their hearts.  Instead of playing Bingo all afternoon, they now make rags.

Before only one or two go home a winner while the rest are losers.  Now each one goes home a winner.  They don't just go home with a small income, they also go home with a strengthen heart and an encouraged spirit, ready to face the challenges ahead.

Rags to riches indeed.  What they have found through the sewing project is more than just material riches.  They have found life, friends, an all-important skill, and a supportive community.  You can't put a price tag on those.  Those are priceless.  Riches beyond.

The sewing project is also growing.  When we started, we only had two industrial sewing machines.  Now aside from those, we have 3 portable sewing machines, another industrial machine for making rags and a serger for sewing t-shirts.  Also, aside from making rags, the mothers now have learned and are making pillow cases, table cloths, bags and soon, t-shirts.  Also, from two mothers, now seven mothers are actively participating in the sewing program.

Seeing lives changed is really amazing.  We are just glad to be a part of it.