Guild makes uniforms for Kenyan children

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April 23, 2008

By DANIELLE RUSH The Kokomo Tribune Wed Apr 23, 2008, 11:42 PM EDT

School uniforms made by local seamstresses will be worn by Kenyan children this summer.

Wednesday, members of the American Sewing Guild, Kokomo Chapter, formed an assembly line of sewing machines and ironing boards in the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library South Branch, passing pieces of brown gingham fabric from table to table, creating short-sleeved, collared uniform shirts to go with the brown shorts boys at the Bright Star School wear daily.

Greentown resident Shirley Hoy contacted Guild members to help her meet her goal of making 75 school uniforms before she travels with school founder Jan Hinkle, a retired Kokomo-Center teacher, to Nairobi in June.

She had cut out 20 shirts and 20 pairs of pants before Wednesday, with hopes of completing all of them in one day. She appreciated the guild members help, because each outfit takes her about five hours to complete on her own.

Hoy has completed 20 brown gingham dresses for the girls, and 24 boys’ uniforms. She hopes to make another 20 dresses before June.

Guild President Becky Wilson said the members were glad to be able to help.

“It’s a nice service project we could do.”

Guild member Cynthia Greenwald said she was glad to help because she thought the project was worthwhile.

“I’m a firm believer in doing projects for others,” she said, adding that she likes the idea of children on the other side of the world wearing something she made, “especially when it’s probably the only thing they have.”

Member Linda Lawler said making the uniforms will help the children, and it also gives guild members a chance to work together, which is more fun than sewing at home alone.

Hoy is traveling with a group of 15 people to spend two weeks at the school, in the Fuata Nyayo slum of Nairobi, in June, and each person is allowed to take only what they can carry on the airplane. Hinkle uses their baggage space in the plane to take needed items, including the uniforms, to Nairobi, because items shipped there do not always arrive at their destination.

Hoy first learned of Hinkle and her school from a February 2004 Kokomo Tribune article, and felt compelled to offer her assistance.

“I had a passion for Africa,” she said, adding that she felt she didn’t have enough money to give to make a difference, but she could use her talents for the children in some way.

“I told her, ‘Jan, I can sew,’” and Hinkle had her make some bags for the children to carry their books to school.

In addition to making uniforms, she’s taking a donated sewing machine to the school and plans to teach the girls to sew while she’s in Nairobi. The girls can use that as a marketable skills when they complete school, she said.

She was thankful for the help and for the Guild’s organization. She said by the time she and Wilson confirmed their plans, Wilson had members lined up to help and the room at the library booked for their use.

Hoy said the uniforms will be given to the children for free, because most could not afford to buy them.

She said of the nearly 400 children at the school, “they may only have the clothes on their back,” and the uniforms will be well-worn.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they sleep in them.”

Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com

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