Empowering women in the art of making clothes

Empowered…Jeris Kundin, Tan Maki and Anna Karapi hard at work at the PNG Garment and Textile Development Institute
From left are Jeris Kundin, Tan Maki and Anna Karapi while at back are SBDC women in development officer Maria Kalap and business development manager Nathan Timo
Anna Karapi, Tan Maki, SBDC women in development officer Maria Kalap and Jeris Kundin

By MALUM NALU

Three women from rural areas of the country have just completed four months of intensive training in clothes making.
The women, two from Jiwaka area of Western Highlands province and one from Eastern Highland province, were brought to Port Moresby by Small Business Development Corporation for the express purpose of furthering their clothes-making skills at PNG Garment and Textile Development Institute.
From the beginning of February to the end of May this year, the three women have been undergoing intensive training at the institute, which SBDC hopes will reap handsome rewards by them going back home and training more women.
SBDC paid for their travel, training and daily living costs in Port Moresby, and to put the icing on the cake, paid for two industrial sewing machines worth K3, 100 each which they will take home with them to teach more women.
They are Tan Maki and Jeris Kundi, both sewing trainers at Kuling Star Vocation Training School in Minj, Western Highlands province; and Anna Karapi, from Isametoka village in Goroka, an informal sector businesswoman who is already into making clothes.
SBDC business development manager, Nathan Timo, explains it’s all about empowering women from rural areas.
“A lot of women are getting into sewing and tailoring, and this particular project is all about empowering women in rural areas to improve livelihood, create employment opportunities and alleviate poverty,” he says.
“We are empowering women in rural areas so that they can help other women.
“SBDC brought them here and paid for their return airfares, lodging, course fees and a small living allowance.
“SBDC is also providing them two industrial machines.”
Karapi, an informal sector businesswoman, sells clothes she makes around Goroka.
“Over the 16 weeks, I have learned many new things and am now more advanced in sewing, especially in things like designing, pattern making and then construction of garments,” she said.
“When I go back, I will be able to attend to all orders.
“I’ve already got big plans to expand.
“What I have learned will not be wasted, and I say this because there is no tailoring company in Goroka.”