Monica lecturing on using rulers and colors creating batik fabrics

As many of you know, I just returned from Ghana on a project called Sew For Sisterhood. There we are creating a Co-Op and teaching the women how to sew and make products for the western customer. In class I taught the women how to create color stories, make patterns, use rulers and create fashionable pieces that are marketable to the westerner. I created a structure for how to communicate among the members and to their customers. I implemented rules and techniques that will ensure quality products and success for the future of the Sew for Sisterhood Co-op.  I feel most importantly the women now have hope for opportunity, something most of them have never had.

This was our classroom.. an abandoned church with no window or doors.. chickens, goats and kids running through as we created our first samples for The Go Girl Shop

As I exited the plane to Ghana the first sign I read was ” YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE”; My life has done just that, as the experience opened my eyes and heart in a way that they never have. The thoughts that race through my mind are now: How can I help more? How can I make this my life work? How do I make this mission I started successful? Specifically,how can I help Regina who was paralyzed as a child and has never been able to walk without cruches whose only dream is to make enough money to buy a car so her son can drive her around? How do I help Victoria and Esther make money to send their kids to high school, so they can have a better life? Or Sarah who lives with 8 family members whose only dream is to be able to make enough money so she can help the orphans.

The women made quilts for the orphans such as Grace and Ruth living in Childrens Home for Hope, to be auctioned off at the Go Fund Benefit Oct. 6th that raised enough money to build a new orphanage. The quilts not only bring the kids warmth, but generate income for the Sew for Sisterhood Co-op

The power goes out on a regular basis and these SUPER WOMEN use coal burning irons and hand wond sewing machines like its just another day...

As westerners we take for granted the most basic needs; food to eat, electricity, clean water, education. Basic education can create opportunity and the most basic opportunity can help with the most basic necessities of life. We take these things for granted . Not one of the women in my class has passed junior high due to lack of funds from their families. This is very common in Africa, and leaves many of these women without skills, struggling to survive by selling fruit on the side of the road, barely making enough to feed themselves, turning to promiscuity, ending up pregnant or with a disease. This cycle continues and their children are then brought up without the same opportunities. By educating women,  our ladies will be able to make money and pass on that education to their kids, breaking the cycle and creating a better future for their families. Through the Sew for Sisterhood project, we plan on teaching the women involved how to create marketable western products, selling the products in the U.S and later helping them acquire a shop in order to sell their products to western tourists. 

Now that I have taught them how to make the products and set up a structure, the women are anxious and ready for the next step. Everyone is full of hope and excitement for this opportunity. However, the Go Fund now needs to raise money in order to help sustain this project. The first step is to place an order directly to our ladies to be directly handmade by the Sew for Sisterhood Co-op. Then the Go Fund will sell the products through the GO GIRL Shop site, www.thegofund.org. Once we have successfully placed the order and marketed these products, we will then begin to sell their products at trade shows and to stores. Step by step creating a successful business model that we can replicate and use to help women like Regina all over the world right now.

Regina.. her only dream is to have enough money to buy a car so her son can drive her around and Emma who carried her sewing machine to class everyday on her head.. something these women are all very accustomed to..

My personal dream and one of my goals for MonTree  is to make women’s  dreams come true…a high school education, a car, a roof over their heads, and food for them and their families.  There is no reason that Every1 EVERYWHERE ( see www.Every1.me)  should not have the basic necessities of life. Help in any way you can, this would be so much appreciated. It is the gift that keeps on giving. You can either donate through the non profit.. www.thgofund.org and donate to the Sew For Sisterhood project, or you can pay pal me at uneekmoneek@gmail.com, or send a check to Monica Wontorski 6o1 w. 57th ny, ny 1oo19 . Every little bit will make a difference..

Sew for Sisterhood... my new found sisters!

To view more photos of the Sew for Sisterhood project please click on photo below….

Sew for Sisterhood