Office and small sewing school for ovc and
caretakers’ group
Overview:
PCPP funds were used to provide the roof, cement, and interior supplies, as well
as to pay the teacher. The building was small (only ten single bati sheets long), and
nothing was purchased with PCPP funds until the group had built the walls of the
structure themselves. This was not simple for them because only a few of the adult
members were strong and able-bodied, but nearly everyone pitched in, caretakers and
kids, and the result was that they felt a clear investment in and ownership of the project.
Technique or Activity steps. (This or any other significant construction project
should not be considered unless the group raises the idea themselves. Also cohesion and
success of the group in past projects should be a pre-requisite. For example, in this case
the group had successfully co-farmed a sunflower field the year before.)
Make a list of all required building and other materials together with group
members. Identify which can be provided by the group and which cannot. Invite
potential sewing instructors to group meetings and ask group members to be
responsible for negotiating a fair wage. Identify through a democratic process
which children will have first priority in the school. Be sure that decisions about
what labor and expenses will be covered by the group are made in a setting open
to and inclusive of all members. Be very thorough and specific during this
process, and if possible look for examples from similar projects.
Check and double-check prices, write grant proposal, and keep group apprised of
its progress through the system. The more open you are with them about this
process, the more you will all feel like you are on the same side and your
relationship won’t be threatened by any hang-ups in the grant process.
Encourage, visit, and assist them as they perform their contributions to the
project.
Incorporate group members as much as possible in the purchasing of materials
with PCPP funds and making decisions along the way. Encourage them to feel
responsibility toward making the best use of the funds rather than merely as
passive recipients of aid.
Troubleshoot as you go, keeping in mind that part of treating people with respect
is holding them accountable for their behavior. Stay close to the process and nip
problems in the bud!
Suggested follow-up for the activity/technique:
Try to take pictures on group work days so you can give the group a scrapbook of photos
at the end. This can really help group cohesion and pride as they realize what they have
accomplished.
Advantages of This Technique/activity:
The ultimate purpose of this activity is to enhance the care and educational opportunities
of the OVCs. This can sometimes get lost in your interactions with caretakers, so make
Office and small sewing school for ovc and
caretakers’ group
sure you bring the focus back to the children as much as possible by encouraging their
participation wherever possible in events and decision-making.
Lessons Learned and other tips
The project should not be considered unless the children were involved in the
process of choosing and planning it. In this case, the adults decided to prioritize
providing an opportunity for the OVCs to learn a skill, and the children voted on
sewing as the skill they wanted.
Organization of the school and supplies and documentation of supply use once the
sewing classes started was a real issue. The group wanted this to be done but
needed a lot of assistance. Be sure to include a cabinet to store and organize the
school’s supplies. You may also need to help them create and post class
schedules, cleaning schedules, and inventories to help them identify in advance
when to purchase new supplies.
Money management! Talk to the group in advance about this and ask to see any
records of their finances. In this case, PCVs found money to be a very divisive
issue in the group, because it was not managed openly or in any established
system. This had to be addressed through training and by providing appropriate
books and showing examples. PCVs also used the process of implementing the
grant to demonstrate accounting and the importance of openness about money use
to build trust.
After construction was completed, PCVs learned that the group members did not
consider the building’s walls, which were made of mud bricks plastered with
cement, secure enough from thieves to store the sewing machines in the office
when they were not in use. They resorted to storing the machines and other
supplies in a nearby member’s house and carrying them to the office as needed, a
major pain that is hard on the machines and delays class time. Be sure to discuss
this issue in advance so that you can plan a building that will be secure!
References
• This PCPP project was implemented by Christy Cox and James Olney in
Makutupa Village, Mpwapwa district, Dodoma region in 2005-2006.
• Makutupa village contacts if you want to go visit: John Mganga, Jeston Chibupa,
Sara Majuwa all in Mwanjili subvillage.