Design26 Foundation has bought land in Harmony Village that will become a skills training centre to help young women with jobs. From left are graduates Sadé Daries, director of Design26, Suraya Williams, Raabi’ah Jacobs, Taryn Du Plessis and Mómina Ajouaar.
The Design26 Foundation which started by making matric ball dresses for pupils has now, five years later, bought land with the aim of creating jobs for young women.
The NPO’s director Suraya Williams, 47, from Westgate, said she found herself working closely with the girls even after matric.
“In most cases they’d pass but they’d be looking for jobs as their skills needed to be enhanced,” she said.
Ms Williams found that many girls dropped out of school or helped their families.
“I wanted to do more. As much as matric balls are a big deal, our unemployment rate is high in our community,” she said.
“I’ve seen how young people lose themselves in the community, looking for a place to belong and lacking role models. I want to show Mitchell’s Plain’s girl-children that if I can do it, so can they, if they put their mind to it,” she said.
Design26 Foundation started in Ms Williams’ garage where young women aged from 15 to 20 were taught how to sew.
She later turned a room in her house into a work space with two sewing machines from her late mother. Muslim Hands donated another sewing machine but the Covid-19 pandemic put the brakes on the project, she said.
The need became greater in 2020, said Ms Williams. “I approached the City who sent a database of available land. I looked at the area and wanted to change the perception of it, uplift the status as well as help young women. Late January, the land was approved by the council,” she said.
Ms Williams wants to use the land in Harmony Village to start her skills training centre. She wants to offer entrepreneurship opportunities and for young women to become financially stable.
“This is to bring about hope and status to the people of Mitchell’s Plain. I want that building to be a monument of legacy,” said Ms Williams.
“This will transform a young girl's life from sitting at home and feeling despondent. They must have security, hope and dignity,” she said.
Ms Williams informed girls online about the skills development opportunities. “There are graduates who are now working for Design26 as all rounder machinists and facilitators. Seeing them grow from then to now is such a success,” she said.
The training lasts three months, taking place once a week on a Monday, she said.
Graduate Sadé Daries, 22, from Westridge, said Design26 Foundation helped her build herself up and develop her skills in fashion.
She joined Design26 in 2022. She was doing odd jobs after matriculating in 2018 but she always wanted to do something in fashion and clothing. She wasn’t able to access tertiary education due to finances.
“I saw a girl's matric dress Ms Williams made, it was beautiful. I applied to join their free sewing class. I wasn’t motivated after matric but after joining them I liked what I was learning. It was interactive and engaging,” she said.
Mómina Ajouaar, 22, from Rocklands, joined Design26 Foundation last year. She was at home unemployed for three years before joining their programme. “The online posts were all about women empowerment, I fell in love with the story and wanted to be part of that. The environment is beautiful. I enjoy working here,” she said.
Graduate Raabi’ah Jacobs, 24, from Portland, who joined in 2021 said she always had an interest in fashion. She said she has learned about more than just sewing. “If you have an interest and an opportunity like this you should take it. I got to sharpen a lot of skills that I knew how to do but wasn’t practising.”
Graduate and former Beacon Hill High School pupil, Taryn Du Plessis, 22, from Beacon Valley, joined in 2020. She said she knows how to work any sewing machine. “I didn’t want to study but wanted to do a short course and I’m enjoying it. Ms Williams always motivates us to learn beyond our imagination.”
For more information contact Design26 Foundation on WhatsApp 081 765 9060 or email info@design26foundation.org.za