Empowering Women Living with HIV and AIDS through Tailoring Skills: our new project

Over the years, we have implemented various projects aimed at economic empowerment, health education, and social inclusion. Since our founding, we have also continually supported Nsangeni Support Group; a group made up of women living with HIV and AIDS in our community.

Women living with HIV and AIDS in Malawi face multiple challenges, including economic hardship, social stigma, and discrimination. Many of these women struggle to support themselves and their families due to limited access to employment opportunities. This situation is further exacerbated by the societal stigma associated with HIV, which often leads to social isolation and diminished self-esteem.

You may remember back in 2022, we launched a beekeeping project to support this group. Since then, the Support Group has attracted many more members, resulting in the need for us to expand and grow our support to ensure that all members have opportunities to be involved in our projects.

With that in mind, we have developed a brand new tailoring project, to support and empower our 30+ Nsangeni Support Group members. ​ 

Why tailoring?

Tailoring has been identified by our team in Domasi as a viable economic activity that can provide a sustainable source of income for women in the Support Group. Tailoring is a skill that is in demand both locally and regionally, and it offers the potential for self employment, thereby enabling these women to become financially independent. By equipping the Support Group members with tailoring skills and providing them with the necessary tools, this project aims to empower them economically and socially.


What are the project objectives and activities?

The overall project objective is to empower women living with HIV and AIDS through the acquisition of tailoring skills.

Activities will include:

Comprehensive Tailoring Training: The training program will cover basic to advanced tailoring techniques, including cutting, stitching, and finishing. The programme will be tailored to accommodate different skill levels, ensuring that all participants gain proficiency in tailoring. 

Business Management Training: In addition to tailoring skills, the women will receive training in business management, including financial literacy, customer service, and inventory management. This will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to run a successful business.

Assessment and Certification: Upon completion of the training, each participant will undergo an assessment to evaluate their skills. Those who meet the required standards will receive a certificate of completion, recognising their achievement and boosting their confidence

So, when will it start and what's next?

Thanks to an extremely generous donor, we were able to start the training programme on October 2nd 2024. The programme has proved immensely popular, with 32 support group members currently signed up. Over the coming weeks we look forward to introducing you to some of these members, along with our training team.

This is a project we have been planning for a really long time. We are so proud and thankful to get it off the ground this year. We hope that it will not only meet the needs of the support group members, but it will also help to break down stigma in the community and further prove that living with HIV and AIDS does not limit a person's ability to follow their ambitions and live a full and successful life.

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