Sewing program comes to the Somali Community

Guest article by Shirley Adams 

Women in the St. Joseph Somali community expressed an interest in learning how to sew so they could make their traditional clothes (Hajib-head covering, Baati – cotton housedress, Dirac – long light dress, Abaya – long-sleeved, floor-length, flowing garment worn over street clothes – and Gorgorad – silk underskirt) and so they could repair their children’s clothes. Cultural Bridges responded to their interest. With Resurrection Lutheran Church providing space, help of volunteers to teach sewing from Cultural Bridges, RLC and the community, funding from Thrivent for refurbished sewing machines and supplies, sewing machines donated by community members and the generosity of the Sewing Center in St. Cloud, the sewing program began in the middle of June and will run through August. The class meets for two hours, two days a week at RLC. Currently there are 10 students in the class and five teachers/volunteers. Upon successfully completing the program, students will receive one of the donated sewing machines.

Khadija Salah, who earned a sewing certificate while she was in a refugee camp, knows the importance of women having this skill. She assisted in recruiting students for the class and also with the translation of sewing terms from English to Somali. She said the women are really excited about this opportunity because they have a hard time finding the clothes they like here in Minnesota and gaining this skill may help them to get a job.

“The students are so eager to learn and try so hard,” said Joan Thralow, one of the volunteer teachers. “One of the biggest problems at first was getting them to slow down so they didn’t jam up the machines with thread, but with each week has come major improvement.” All the volunteers expressed how they are enjoying sharing their expertise and getting to know the Somali women.

In addition to learning how to sew, the students are learning the English words for the sewing machine parts and supplies.

The current volunteers are Kay Reardon, Jan Clements, Kathy Haselhorst, Thralow and Pastor Carol Olson. The program could use more volunteers. If you know how to sew and want to get to know your Somali neighbors, contact Mary Quinlivan, president of Cultural Bridges, at mmquinlivan@msn.com.