Ramond Fils Aimee has been a director at one of the schools our scholarship children attend and he is also a sewing machine repair person. He always helps even though he struggles with sickle cell anemia. Photo provided by Joan Haviland
The Sister City Committee of Honeoye Falls sends its thanks to many community members who sent donations to help the committee continue to provide food for the children in school in Borgne, Haiti, which is the community’s Sister City. You are making a difference. Committee members say it is heartwarming to know that the children are doing so well and passing the national tests. They work hard and they are able to do so because they are being nourished physically as well as intellectually thanks in part to their friends in Honeoye Falls.
Back in 2011, the Sister City Committee received a grant which enabled them to start a sewing center in Borgne. Our friends in Borgne requested this program because many young men and women had no work in their town. Being able to sew is in demand in Borgne. All the children going to school wear uniforms. Uniforms are also worn by nurses, Boy and Girl Scouts, university students, church choirs, bank tellers, etc. Uniforms are BIG. Clothing repair is also necessary and a source of customers for students who learn to sew. The Committee was able to purchase ten treadle sewing machines (no electricity needed!) , fabric, and other necessary sewing supplies. It then hired two teachers.
The sewing program was successful from the beginning. There were 40 students in the first class. One man walked many miles to participate. The students shared machines and the place was humming. As more students learned to sew, they taught others and the program has been flourishing for years. The machines have been repaired along the way. Several students have gone on to start their town tailoring businesses!
With the arrival of Covid 19, the sewing students made 1,500 masks which they distributed to educators, cemetery workers, market vendors and the elderly. Now, however, the machines are no longer useable. The salt air and years of heavy use have done them in. This is a program the Committee hopes to keep going, so it will be searching for grants and other ways of raising money to buy more sewing machines. Any ideas are appreciated and can be brought to the attention of Sister City Committee members Joan Haviland or Mike Tobin. The committee says “Thanks so much for being such a caring community!”
