WOMEN-SEW Global Foundation
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WOMEN-SEW Global Foundation
Woman-SEW Global Foundation

STEPPING INTO OUR MISSION - Women around the world work, learn and collaborate in collectives to support themselves, and their children and improve their living conditions across the globe. My journey into the collective lives of women, who sew, is the foundational vision of the Women-Sew Global Foundation. Our organizational mission is to create global awareness and a response to women and girls engaged in sewing collectives globally, as well as locally, with intended outcomes of economic and leadership empowerment. Based on a global theory of change that addresses the underlying causes of poverty and access to resources for women, particularly women of color; sewing collectives are an approach to achieving income, leadership skills, self-sustainability, and equity in domestic decision making and disabling domestic violence for women. ~Dr. LaVerne Lewis, Founder

Our Beginning

In 2012, on a personal journal to Tanzania to teach English in the small village of Uringa, I meet Mama Toni. She was our mission house manager, cook and village Mama to every small child who dared to play in our yard. She was the unofficial, village monarch. Everyone knew Mama Toni. Early one Saturday morning, with nothing planned, I asked Mama Toni about the vibrant colored fabrics that all of the women in the village wore. Mama Toni gave me no explanation, but simple said, “Follow me.” After a small hike through several 8 x 12 tiny, red brick houses, we came upon a brick square house that was half the size of the others. Mama Toni said, “My shop, I built it myself. I make clothes for the other women and sell fabric.” Speechless, I stared into a sewer’s heaven. A seamstress shop, in the middle of a village, possessed no electricity or running water. Still speechless, I stood at the door and took in every detail. Two treadle Singer sewing machines stood in the corner and brilliantly colored fabric hung all around the walls. Large spools of thread were on a shelf and a cordless iron of steel, sat on the counter. Mama Toni also taught women to sew by teaching them in her three-person shop, where they could learn and earn. ~Dr. LaVerne Lewis, 2012

 

Our Board - Peer Advisors - Staff

Meet Our Cuba Sewing Collective

Sewing in Cuba….

I journeyed to Cuba to teach English and work with the local women in a small sewing and craft collective, which was part of a mission outreach program.

~Dr. LaVerne Lewis, 2018

Pictured right: Trip to Cuba 2022

Pictured below: Trip to Cuba 2018

RUBI’S JOURNEY

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RUBI’S JOURNEY began as a new comer to the free sewing program in the Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham, Oregon. She had never used a sewing machine but wanted to learn. A year later, as a top sewer in the program, Rubi joined a collective of experienced sewers and learned to make customized tote bags to sell at local fairs. Rubi finally took the big step and bought her first sewing machine from her sales. ‘This is the first time I have ever made money from something I made. I am so proud of myself” says Rubi. Her goals are to be a business woman and own a small Mercado and continue to sell her creations along with Mexican food and cultural gifts.

Rubi A. is a board member on the Foundation and mentors other Latina women, who sew in our Gresham and Portland programs.