30 participants took part in a 5-day Sewing skills training program facilitated by Ni-Van Tailoring School with facilitator, Mrs Heather Pole-Vanua. Heather, an accountant by profession, had the desire to learn sewing and through self-teaching and inspiration has now over 26years of sewing and tailoring experience. Through her Ni-Van Tailoring School she travels around Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu imparting sewing skills to interested participants.
From a training last year in Goroka attended by Pr Leighton Kasimo, Western Highlands Mission Stewardship Director, he organised and scheduled Heather through the Stewardship Department programs to come to Mount Hagen to conduct the training. The training included taking body measurements, pattern drafting, cutting material and sewing together to what is termed: Pacific Wear - an outfit comprising of top and skirt, and also including a dress outfit. The 30 participants included Pr Kasimo himself plus 29 female participants. 4 of which had never used a sewing machine in their lives. 3 participants traveled in from Enga, Goroka, Port Moresby and 10 of the participants non-adventists, having heard about the sewing program through their friends and attending.
One participant shared how she had been looking at 'Pacific Wear' being advertised and had wished that one day she would learn how to sew and it so happened that Pr Kasimo had walked into her stationery shop to buy butcher's papers for the training and was explaining to her staff - that they told Pr that, their 'boss-meri' (manager) has been looking to join such training.
All completed their outfits by Friday end of program and wore their outfits as part of presentation upon receiving their certificates of participation.
Attending the presentation Pr Solomon Paul, WHM Mission Secretary, giving a description of the dead sea - where the water rushes in and everything stops at the dead sea. Using this illustration, he encouraged the participants to not hold on to this knowledge and skill but utilise it, continue sewing, teach someone else that skill and not let the skill received lay idle or go to waste.
Mrs Pole-Vanua also through her training encourages financial management skills and budgeting as part of upskilling and imparting knowledge to her participants to utilise the skills to earn an income for them and their families.
"I have given you the resource to buy a car, a house, put your children in school, send you on trips, and to do even more business. It now depends on you and how you will utilise these skills and always remember, when you share your blessings and your talents and skills with others, you make room for more to come into your lives."
Pr Kasimo hopes to have Ni-Van Tailoring come back to Western Highlands Mission for another sewing skills training next year onwards.
