Soroptimist International (SI) Esperance has launched its newest project COVID Comfort. Part One of the project called was Sewing to Save Lives.
The objectives were to join in global efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19; to economically empower unemployed women in communities with children to provide for and to assist in the global campaign to educate the general public on the importance of wearing a facemask when leaving home.
SI Esperance donated three Brother XL2800 sewing machines to women in the communities of Barrackpore, Friendship Village and The La Romaine Migrant Support Group (LARMS). The machines were acquired courtesy the InterClub of T&T which consists of 18 women’s clubs, including SI Esperance.
The group provided fabric, sewing materials and patterns for the women to make face masks.
They will distribute masks free of charge to the especially vulnerable in the community.
After the quota of masks is met, the machines will be used for the empowerment of the women through their “cottage industry” creations for their own economic benefit.
Another aspect of COVID Comfort is the initiative Hampers for Hope. Thirty hampers, which were purchased from Park View Supermarket in Palmiste, were distributed to deserving families in the Barrackpore area.
The goals of this project fall under the United Nations Sustainable Goal two (Zero Hunger); Goal three (Good Health and Well-Being for People) and Goal eight (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Soroptimist International is an organisation with special consultative status at the United Nations (UN) through the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and works through their guidelines.