Da Maria Sewing Project

• Indonesia

Why I chose this cause:

I came across an article about period poverty that shook me to the core. Millions of girls around the world cannot afford to buy sanitary pads and end up using dirty rags, newspapers or leaves during their periods which affects their mental health , education and well-being. Period poverty robs them from the right to education, health, water, sanitation, work and gender equality. I decided that I couldn’t sit on my soft, pink and saggy bottom so I started something from nothing once again ….

How I planned to help: 

I put an advert looking for a group of underprivileged girls in Indonesia as period poverty is a big issue for many young girls . I wanted to set up a sewing studio and teach these girls how to make their own reusable sanitary pads. A lovely couple called Hadi, Eka and their adorable toddler responded to my advert and introduced me to a place called Al-Kautsar in Indonesia where over 150 underprivileged Muslim young girls live. The plan was to raise funds to buy 10 sewing machines, find a tailor to teach the girls how to make their own sanitary pads and not miss school days due to menstruation ever again.

What we raised:

thanks to the generosity of many supporters, we have purchased 10 sewing machines, knocked down a wall to make the studio large enough to accommodate more girls during the sewing classes, painted the sewing studio, replaced all the windows, purchased the fans to keep the room cooler as the roof is made of metal and its boiling hot, foldable tables, stools, furniture, fabrics, extension leads, the cost of the courier to deliver the sewing machines, coffee maker, airpot to share a cup of tea while chatting and sewing, books to read when not using the studio to sew, weekly trips to Indonesia from Singapore to set up the studio. 

Achievement:

I was alone to start with as per all my projects but thanks to the generosity of many people who once again saw my passion, relentless determination and understood why I was selling my vision, we were able to raise enough funds to open “Da Maria” sewing studio to honour and celebrate my mum Maria . After lots of hard work painting, knocking a wall, installing new windows, assembling furniture, the sewing studio has opened and we are running the sewing classes ! 

I knew watching  “changing room “series in London for years and learning from my dad how to plaster walls, tiling and use a drill would pay off one day -  The girls are now making their own sanitary towels and thanks to the tailor Umi, they are all making a terrific progress and they have started to normalise conversation about periods which is crucial to reduce shame, stigma and offering effective solutions. 

When I spend time with them, their warmth and affection reminds me that you gotta keep pushing on even when negative people try to rain on your parade, wear your enthusiasm like an armor against skeptics, transform adversity into victory by inspiring others through the power of your example, speak out even if your voice and legs shake like hell, challenge the system, people and yourself but most of all start something that doesn’t end with you and spread kindness cause its the only thing that we can all afford if we want to.