The “Sewing Machines for East Timor” project encompasses collecting sewing machines and overlockers to be refurbished and shipped to the Canossian Sisters in Timor-Leste, to the coffee highlands of Ermera and the main capital city of Dili.
During the Covid-19 crisis, when both Melbourne and Timor-Leste were locked down, Rotary Melbourne asked the Canossian Sisters how we could help and they responded clearly – please send Singer sewing machines which are robust, easily maintained and there is a technician in Dili who knows how to keep them running.
The Canossian Sisters now have two sewing workshops in Timor-Leste where students learn basic sewing skills – one classroom at the Canossa Escola in Dili, and another at Imacon Escola in Ermera. Students are learning how to sew school uniforms, tablecloths and embroidery, with cloth supplied by Donations In Kind.
To date the project has collected and refurbished 45 sewing machines and overlockers, mostly from the 1960s & 1970s when machines were simple and easy to repair and shipped them to Timor-Leste via the DIK warehouse in West Footscray.
Today we seek further donations of sewing machines and funds to help with shipping. Each machine costs $50 to refurbish and test & tag, plus another $40 for shipping.
For further information or to arrange pick up of a sewing machine, contact us below.
