by Roland Smith, OA Volunteer Director
Involvement in the Orphans Africa Sewing Group was not something that I thought would have an impact on my life, yet it has in so many ways. You ask yourself how does a four foot eighteen-inch-tall man almost seventy years old become a seamster? Many years ago, my mother owned a fabric store in Tacoma, WA and at the time in my teens I would never have thought that measuring, cutting and surging a project would enter my life. While attending a Orphans Africa board meeting and discussing the future journey of Michele and Carl to the schools in Tan-
zania and the need for reusable feminine hygiene items, my wife Robin and I volunteered to work on making the hygiene products of which each young woman would receive eight pads and two reusable holders. These items are made of a special waterproof cloth and flannel material. The alternative to disposable pads provides a safe eco-friendly option for the young women who can clean and reuse them for up to two years.
With work progressing, we approached our annual boat trip to the beautiful San Juan Islands in Washington. With the sewing machine, serger, cutting pads, thread and needles all loaded, off we went. Whenever we stopped at a marina for a night or two and the weather allowed, I would take out our table and set up the workstation. Sometimes on foul weather days we would hole up inside the cabin and sew away. When other boaters passed by our boat, they would hear the sounds of a serger, a sewing machine and would stop by and ask, “What are you working on?” to which I learned to reply, “Are you sure you want to know?” Everyone answered that question with yes, please tell me. And what a conversation starter it became! Robin and I would show folks our handy work and share what the items were and more importantly, where they would be going. It has to be one of the most rewarding projects we have worked on: cutting fabric, assembling the pads and stacking over three hundred of them to send to Africa. But the best part was it allowed us to share what these young women meant to us even though we had not met them face to face. We wanted to create and send something that would make a difference in their lives. The responses from the passerby could not have been more positive, affirming, and most importantly, educational regarding the needs of young women who are less fortunate than many. And after all, is that not what we are called to do in our lives?
Reusable feminine hygiene pads and holders in various stages of construction;
Photo, top right: girls at the Mwaji Secondary School receiving kits, some of which were made by another generous sewing group featured in the photo and card, spearheaded by Dianne Webberley of Community of Christ.
