5. The association of courageous women

I went to the center founded by Timbuktu women with handicaps. The purpose of the foundation is to help each other and to welcome donations from organizations who are working to help the people of Timbuktu.

The Germans gave them sewing machines, fabrics and paid a teacher so that women could learn to sew clothes for their families, neighbors and customers. This way they can work and earn money.

After a few months the Germans abandoned these women and no longer gave them the money to buy the fabrics that they needed for practice, so even the teacher never came.
A lot of fabric must be used to learn to sew and there are fifteen women, so the sewing machines remain there, unused.

A proverb says “if your brother is hungry, don’t give him a fish, teach him to fish”.
But you must also give your brother a fishing net, otherwise he won’t catch a fish.

If I can help the women complete their seamstress training, then they will have a chance to earn a living, instead of having to wait for money from charity.

The priority, in my opinion, is that women could immediately have a sewing machine at home to be able to mend clothes and perform small jobs for family and neighbors. In this way, they can earn the small change that makes a difference in a condition of absolute poverty, and above all, they can practice what they have learned at any time.

I saw at home how useful a sewing machine is and I understood that familiarity with it is the first thing for these women to acquire, and this is only possible by having it on hand at home.