Despite our best intentions, sometimes we end up with fabric in our stash that just screams “what was I thinking?”. Rather than let it take up space (either in our homes or gasp a landfill), why not clear some space and donate it to a good cause at the same time?
Reading through the Dutch site Naaipatronen, I’ve just learned about Stichting Toekomst Rwanda (Future Foundation Rwanda), a charity set up by a Rwandan refugee in The Netherlands to help underage mothers and children still vulnerable in Rwanda. They’re taught skills and given homes, and just because they’re on the other side of the world doesn’t mean they’re very different from us BurdaStyle sewers – when asked, they said they wanted to set up a sewing studio! So in October the charity is taking several sewing machines and a seamstress to train the girls but they’re now in need of fabric and haberdashery donations to take along to them!
So have a look through your stash and if there’s anything you can spare, send it to Stichting Toekomst Rwanda, Weipoortseweg 89, 2381 NJ Zoeterwoude, The Netherlands or get in touch through info@stichtingtoekomstrwanda.nl.
And with all that new-found space in your sewing room, you may just have to go fabric shopping!
Aug 20, 2008, 07.37 PMby EmilyKate
How great! Over here in Australia, I know that the Spotlight fabric chain runs the ‘Stitch in Time’ program where they ask people to drop-off their old sewing machines they no longer use and they are sent over to areas of the world that need them and they are converted to treadle-power. The women make their own clothes, start businesses etc.
Aug 20, 2008, 08.06 PMby sunnyb64
Love this idea— I know I have some fabric that I just don’t know what to do with, and that would be a great cause. Any idea if they care about fiber content? I’m pretty sure these are polyester type things…
Aug 21, 2008, 03.44 AMby squirrellypoo
Sunnyb64, it doesn’t say any restrictions on fiber content. As the girls are just learning, I imagine anything would be helpful for getting the concepts down. When I think back to the cheap polyesters I learned on… some doozies there!
Aug 25, 2008, 12.11 PMby smvphotography
such a wonderful project. does anyone know of something similar in the US?