SEWING FOR DIGNITY AND EMPOWERMENT

The unfavorable socioeconomic context for the development of the entire Burundian society is a major challenge for both short- and long-term development. Young people, as an active population representing a significant proportion of the overall population, are particularly affected.

Capacity building for young girls and single mothers is one of the most effective ways to reduce their vulnerability to gender-based violence and to promote their dignity.

Unemployment is still a barrior to the development and well-being of young people in Burundi. Access to employment does not keep pace with the number of graduates finishing their studies, and for those who are unable to continue their education, their living conditions become even more difficult.

As a result, the lack of employment, limited opportunities for empowerment, and the feeling of an uncertain future put young people into an extremely vulnerable position, which opens the door to manipulation and to the development of behaviors that undermine their dignity and compromise their future. Early marriages which most of the time result to domestic violence, unwanted pregnancies, sexual abuse are among negative effects of that situation.

As part of its mission to reduce community vulnerability, SADC has launched a sewing training program for young girls living in vulnerable conditions, in order to reduce their financial dependence, exploitation and abuse, which often lead to gender-based violence.

Sewing is an option that can offer young people opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and social integration. By supporting them in developing sewing skills, SADC aims not only to provide technical skills but also to develop entrepreneurial, commercial and social competencies, making young people more autonomous and competitive while contributing to the development of their community.

Sixty out-of-school girls, single mothers and girls living with disabilities have been trained and completed the program. In Bugendana, in Gitega Province, the graduates saw this training as the fulfillment of a long-held dream, as they considered sewing a profitable trade for women and girls, given the limited development opportunities in their locality.

For other young girls and single mothers trained in Bujumbura, sewing, once mastered, increases their dignity and helps them to meet their needs without having to rely on others who may eventually become perpetrators of abuse. They stress taht sewing is an alternative to address a problem that, if unresolved, becomes a social issue. After the training, SADC provided sewing kits to help them start their cooperative.

For SADC, strengthening young people’s sewing skills is a sustainable investment that promotes local employment, entrepreneurship and social inclusion. With a strong youth-centered approach, SADC is convinced that sewing can become a true pathway to empowerment and economic development for young girls with limited opportunities and capacities.