© Stitches of Hope & Design Sense Graphics & Web 2018

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

History 2007-2015

 

The Sewing Centre, commenced in 2007 and staffed by 23 young women and three men, ran very well with many young women now gainfully employed and others waiting to learn this important skill.  Lives are being enriched as the opportunity to earn a living and develop an empowering skill on the sewing machines grew. The workers gained an excellent reputation for high quality garments and appreciate the training they are receiving from qualified dressmakers.

 

The Stitches of Hope Sewing Centre grew over the 8-year period with an impressive line of ladies wear being produced for the local market and quality garments for overseas markets.

 

The continual need to provide improved conditions and more sewing machines and overlockers was a priority for the SOH fund-raising team and supporters.

 

Some of the young girls work six days a week and sent their wages to desperately poor family members who live in the remote provinces of Cambodia. To provide security and protection for the workers a fence and gate were erected in 2013-14 by the generosity of SOH supporters in Western Australia.  Thank you to these kind donors.

 

A second Sewing Centre was established on a main arterial road into Phnom Penh, producing men's clothing. As with Sewing Centre 1, the staff were provided with food, accommodation, training and given salaries.  The Redeemed Tailors shop had an excellent local and overseas clientele.

 

Sewing Centre 1


The Stitches of Hope Sewing Centre is increasing in staff and production each month, with an impressive line of ladies wear being produced for the local market. A business trip to Vietnam enabled SOH administration to connect with a local businessman and buy bulk fabric at wholesale price which will greatly assist the profit margin for the Sewing Centre, which makes women's clothing and school uniforms.

 

The Sewing Centre, commenced in 2007 and staffed by 23 young women and three men,  is running very well with many young women are now gainfully employed and others waiting to learn this important skill.  Lives are being enriched as the opportunity to earn a living and develop an empowering skill on the sewing machines continues to grow. The young people here are gaining an excellent reputation for high quality garments and appreciate the training they are receiving from qualified dressmakers.

 

Enquiries are coming in from outside Cambodia to extend the business and create quality garments for the overseas market. A continual need to provide improved conditions and more sewing machines and overlockers is a priority for the Fund Raising team and supporters.

 

Some of the young girls work six days a week and send their wages to desperately poor family members who live in the remote provinces of Cambodia.

 

To provide security and protection for the workers a fence and gate have been erected in 2013-14 by the generosity of SOH supporters in Western Australia.  Thank you to these kind donors.

 

Sewing Centre 2

 

On a main arterial road into Phnom Penh, Stitches of Hope's Sewing Centre 2's output is men's clothing. As with Sewing Centre 1, the staff are provided with food, accommodation, training and given salaries.

 

The Redeemed Tailors shop has an excellent local and overseas clientele, with new business possibilities always being discussed.


 

Sewing Centre 3

 

A shift in focus occurred in 2015.  The manager of the Sewing Centres found other employment and Stitches of Hope, had to rethink its emphasis.  Small orders were obtained to fill local orders.  Then our beloved Chanthy relocated to her home district and the need for more review became evident.  The outcome has been an exciting development for both Stitches of Hope and homeless people in Western Australia (WA).

 

Called Win-Win the Stitches of Hope Sleeping Bag Project benefits everyone involved.  Sleeping Bags are made in our Sewing Centre 3 in Phnom Penh, with the staff getting a fair wage for excellent work, plus accommodation and a “family” to belong to.  The bags are then purchased by donors in WA who “buy” a bag (for $50 AUD) and “give” it to a homeless person in their state at the onset of winter.

 

500 sleeping bags were made and distributed in 2017, and another 500 sleeping bags were made and distributed in 2018.  It is rewarding to see people in desperate need in two separate countries benefit.  Manufacture of bags for 2019 sees the project continuing.

 

The bags are distributed via Rotary International (Perth and Swan Districts clubs), Passages in Northbridge and Mandurah, RUAH, Homeless Connect in Joondalup, Indigenous Support in Fremantle, Northam and Alice Springs, Rotary’s Inner Wheel in Albany and Geraldton, Riverview Community Services and by Corridors in Midland.  Shipping of the Sleeping Bags from Sihanoukville to Fremantle was generously handled by McClintock International Shipping, for which we gratefully acknowledge them.