Weaving a brighter future
By Mary Jorgenson
While in Shillong, a small group of Global Exchange participants had the pleasure of visiting the Jingiaseng Kynthei Tailoring and Weaving Training Center. The training center is a project established and operated by women in Ri Bhoi Synod of the Presbyterian Church of India.
Situated in a small room in the synod’s complex, the training center offers vital opportunity for young women and widows in the community. Without opportunity for or access to traditional education, many women’s life choices are limited at best and, more often, dismal. Established in 2007, the center has trained 119 women in tailoring and 98 women in weaving.
The training offered is broad: from silkworms to finishing. The trainees raise their own silkworms, processing the cocoons, spinning and dyeing the thread, and finally, weaving. Woven cloth is sold as table runners and stoles or made into bags. The women also learn general sewing and tailoring skills using treadle machines.
Graduates of the center are proud of their new skills and the organizers are proud of the opportunity they are providing. They hope to expand the program to include drug counseling and legal advice for victims of domestic violence or trafficking. They asked for our prayers as they continue their important work.
The women in Ri Bhoi Synod provide mission funding with their “Handful of Rice” offering. As women prepare family meals, they set aside a handful of rice from their cupboard. The accumulated offering is sold and proceeds are forwarded to the synod. The synod office then sends funds to run the training the center and to support other mission work.
Mary traveled to India in October 2011 with Presbyterian Women’s Global Exchange.
Invite the participant from your synod to your next event to share more insights from this life-changing trip.
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