These girls were the original six girls who helped start the program. They are the leaders of this program and enjoy teaching others. 

All the girls practicing cutting. Some of them had never used scissors before.

"Everyone look!"

With our first girls, we took the process step by step. This was after the cutting stage!

When the girls first sat down at the machines. 

Jessica and Joanne helping Misgana and Mihret with the machines. The first day was very hands on.

We empower our girls by working as a team!

We would celebrate after each step of the process

Misgana and Mihret

Sinafekesh and Jessica

Misgana and Bethlehem

Hand sewing

Wow that's a lot of scarves around their necks

We would stop and all watch and learn.

Everyone watching Jessica as she teaches how to hand sew. 

A bond of teaching, a bond of empowering girls.

Mihret taught one of her teachers, Ephrem, to sew a scarf! This ensures that she will be able to teach others.

Tibebu was proud of the scarf he made. Sewing is just as much an opportunity for him as it is for the girls. By teaching the teachers they are engaged and more likely to empower the girls to keep sewing.

Some of the Elpis boys borrowed the girls' scarves. They look handsome!

This batch of 75 scarves were gifted to the girls in grades 5-8 at the Sitota Learning Center. The sewing girls made created them and then got to pass the out. It was a special moment.

Two happy 7th grade girls who received their scarves.

Pictured here are the majorite of the 5-8 grade girls who received the first set of Sitota Scarves as a gift. A gift for them to feel confident and fashionable.

A few of the girls excited about their new scarves!

The old Sewing machines are found all around Awassa. Many women and men have the job to mend clothing. This is a possible job opportunity for our girls. 

Major thanks to Mrs. Courtney, Naomi, and Joanne for helping pull off a successful first trip. 

Our first trip was one to remember. So many lessons learned, so many arguments, so many tears of joy. We experienced it together. I am so glad you were there for my first trip. I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without you.

Love you, 

Jess

The girls were back sewing over summer to create the first inventory.

She had her baby! 

She signed her name on that tag!

Smiling by her machine.

Sewing some of the Lewi Blue Scarves