«The sewing course changed my life»
Mother of four «Shamsa» (27) learned how to sew. It has given her an income, allowing her to support her children. It also gave her the strength to break out of a destructive marriage.
For «Shamsa», the sewing course from Norwegian Church Aid was a big step.
“Shamsa”* holds up a beautiful dark pink dress that she has sewn herself. Colorful fabrics lie around us, and she shows a couple of large fans in bright colors – all sewn by her.
Shamsa learned to sew on a course organized by Norwegian Church Aid.
But the course would become the beginning of much more than just a job for Shamsa, who has four children.
Fought for Myself
After the sewing course, Shamsa formed a savings group with other women here on Pemba, an island in the Zanzibar archipelago of Tanzania. Norwegian Church Aid supported them with a small business center. The group used the little money they earned to save together. Now Shamsa sews clothes that she sells.
Shamsa was in a difficult marriage. According to Shamsha, her husband did not want the children to attend regular school; he wanted them to go to a religious school. He refused to spend money on the family even though he had a job, and he would not pay for school uniforms for the children. When she began the course, she was still married to him. He did not want her to attend the course, and he did not want her to earn her own money.
“But I fought for myself. I said: “I must do this. I have four children, I must support them”. No one else could help me, so I had to do something to earn an income,” she says.
In the end, he agreed that the children could go to school, but she had to pay for everything.
A Big Step
She finished the course in December 2024 and had a divorce two months before we met her. It was a tough process, and she is still struggling. She now lives with her uncle and the youngest child, while the three other children live with their father – something she had to agree to to get the divorce.
She dreams of starting a sewing center where she can train other girls and women in sewing. She also wants to open her own shop and has just been granted a small loan to start a business. She has begun selling shampoo, soap, and other products in addition to the clothes she makes.
“The sewing course has changed my life. Before, I sat alone and didn’t know what to do to earn an income and support my children. I have taken a big step forward in my life.”
Found My Voice
She believes it is very important that girls earn their own income and learn a trade.
“In this society, many girls are exposed to gender-based violence because of lack of income. They can be sexually exploited because they have nothing to offer. A man might say, ‘If you have sex with me, I’ll give you some money.’ Women are forced to do things they don’t want because they have no income,” says Shamsa.
She believes there are many forms of abuse.
“It is difficult for many women to ask for a divorce when they have no income. You don’t want to be a burden to your family and move back home,” she says.
She received full support from her family. Now she is working to regain custody of her children.
“I am optimistic. I have my own income. I felt like I was living in a cage when I was married. I feel free again. I have found my own voice, and I see a better future now both for me and my children,” she says.
*Shamsa is not her real name.
