MY
interest in learning skills and creating stuff took a different turn in the
past two weeks.
I learned to write years ago and as a result have composed poetry, short stories, plays and even songs,
apart from producing articles that are published in the newspaper that I work
for.
However,
two weeks ago, I got word from a colleague that someone in her church was
running a sewing class. The class would go on for three weeks.
I
told the colleague that I was interested in participating in the lessons.
On
August 20 (a Saturday), I attended my first class – which happened to be the
second for the group. I could not attend the first class because I had to
complete a play for a competition and send it off the day after.
I
decided to take up sewing lessons to one day sew my own shirts. It is often the
case that for us (who are not the average-sized Papua New Guinean), it is hard
to find good shirts in shops.
In
the two lessons, I learned to make blouses (for females) and bags from the
Flying Fish material that we brought. The lessons gave me my first experience
of operating an electric sewing machines as well.
When
I joined the class, I was happy to find another male, among the handful of
women there. He is a retired PNGDF chief warrant officer Stephen Vegogo.
Photo: Facilitator Grace Meakoro with PNGDF retired chief warrant officer Stephen Vegogo holding up some of his products from the sewing lessons. - Photo by Thomas B Hukahu
Mr Vegogo
also has his own goals as to why he joined the sewing lessons.
The
66-year-old retired soldier, who specialised in maintaining electronics and
communications equipment, and is from Tufi Wanigela, in Northern province, said
he was learning a new set of skills to prepare himself for the future.
“I
am learning these skills to earn a living after exiting the force,” Mr Vegogo
said. “I am grateful for these lessons and I am eager to sew and sell my
products.”
Mr
Vegogo, who was the first to complete a blouse in the first lesson, said he was
happy to show his finished products to relatives and his fellow military peers.
We
learned from facilitator Grace Meakoro that we can create stuff and sell to
earn a living – or provide an opportunity to make a bit more money on the side,
if we are working.
Mrs
Meakoro is a trained instructor in sewing, cooking and baking and told us
stories of her past students earning a living with the skills they learned from
her.
In
our country today, we have a lot of young people who have certificates,
diplomas and degrees but remain unemployed.
It
would be nice for those people to learn such skills which can help them sustain
themselves while waiting for better opportunities.
The
facilitator says other classes will be held next year. For now she will be
travelling out of the city to teach people in other churches and centres the
same skills.
- TBH,
August 31, 2016
