Our Impact

Who do we impact?

SEWING partners in the Zebilla community mentor small cohorts of five fellows for periods of three years, resulting in the production of clothing products that can be sold to support Zebilla economy and offset some of the program’s projected costs.

SEWING aims to address women’s empowerment and educational equity throughout the Zebilla community.

What SEWING does?

SEWING provides entrepreneurship and skills training. As a team, we strive to empower young girls living in Northern Ghana by increasing educational and economic opportunities to advance gender equality, while simultaneously supporting the local Ghanaian economy and building long-lasting relationships with the greater Zebilla community. Ghanaian girls accepted to the program through an application process learn sewing and entrepreneurship skills under the mentorship of local seamstresses and tailors that will enable them to receive or create sustainable employment, greater financial independence, and self-confidence by the end of the program and inspire other youth within their community.

 

Zehra Syeda and Samantha Jayasundera, two of the SEWING co-founders, stand onstage with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi during PeaceJam Mid-Atlantic’s Youth Conference.

 

What have we done so far?

  • May 2021:

    • SEWING is officially established under PeaceJam Mid-Atlantic

  • June 2021:

    • SEWING founders present to approximately 300 attendees at Montgomery County, Md. Equity for Change Summit

  • July 2021:

    • SEWING founders present to PeaceJam chapters from across the globe at an international Saturday Session for the first time

  • September 2021:

    • SEWING founders present to Rotary Club of Potomac-Bethesda & earn sponsorship

  • October 2021:

    • PeaceJam Ghana conducts multi-day operational field study in Zebilla, Ghana to gauge interest, meet with possible SEWING fellows, and form partnerships with local organizations

    • SEWING recognized as Billion Acts of Peace Featured Campaign

  • November 2021:

    • SEWING founders present to PeaceJam chapters from across the globe at an international Saturday Session for the second time

  • December 2021:

    • SEWING featured in Billion Acts of Peace Incredible Acts and Campaigns of 2021

  • January 2022:

    • SEWING chapter is established at Lincoln Community School in Accra, Ghana

  • March 2022:

    • SEWING founder presents at Winston Churchill High School’s International Night and all proceeds from the event are donated to SEWING

    • SEWING founder presents at PeaceJam American University’s Open Mic Benefit and all proceeds from the event are donated to SEWING

    • SEWING founders present to PeaceJam Winooski, Vt.

    • SEWING founder manages booth at Montgomery County, Md. Choose Respect RespectFest, which focused on dating violence, bystander intervention, and healthy relationships

  • April 2022:

    • SEWING founders present at PeaceJam Mid-Atlantic Youth Conference with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi

  • July 2022

    • SEWING founder presents at Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring