Berthe
“The workshop is an open door for us that can
become something great. I wasn’t able to go very
far in school and no one in the family ever
expected me to make anything of myself. But at
the workshop, I’ve learned to do a lot of things. I
can go out and handle the purchasing, and I do
whatever is needed. My shyness is gone, and I
can even speak in a group now, when I have
something to add. The family gives me
responsibility and are glad to see what I have
become.”
Rebecca
“My family didn’t send me to school with my
brothers, but I wanted to do something. My
brother helped me learn to sew, but it was hard
making it on my own. Since coming here, I have
learned to sew many other things, and I’m trying
to learn to read. At home I’m respected now
because I get up and go to work in the morning.
My parents and my in-laws see that I’m moving
ahead. I have more confidence. ”
Sali
“I’m very happy working with my sisters here. It’
s like a family, and it’s good working in a group
like this. I’m glad to get up in the morning to
come to work.”
Aminata
“When I was a child my grandmother didn’t like
my mother, and had a marabout (Muslim
witchdoctor) work a spell on my younger brother
and me, and had him “tie up” our intelligence. It
was a kind of curse that meant we could never
succeed in school or anywhere else. Later she
had another person work spells to give me heart
problems and chest pains, which began soon
afterwards.
My brother and I had a very hard time at school.
We were very afraid all the time, and the others
made fun of us. We believed those curses and
were never able to work well at school. I was
afraid I would never be able to do anything with
my life. Our parents went to the marabout several
times to try to find healing for us, but nothing
worked. I was afraid every day that I would die.
At that time I was very discouraged because I had
just failed the exam to get into high school for the
second time. M life seemed useless. If I had to
leave school, that would be the end of everything.
What would I do? I started going to the women’s
meetings and a sewing class they had at the
church. As I listened I realized that with Jesus
there is hope for me.”
Aminata's father finally agreed to apprentice her
to a seamstress, but she struggled there and had
a hard time learning. On the side she began
working with a project that was to become the
Maison Dorcas. We were making velvet
envelopes to sell watches in, and she was the
only one who really knew how to sew.
She has now been a Christian for more than 15
years, and the heart problems she had have
disappeared, because she believes God is
stronger than her grandmother’s curse. Amy is
working, contributing money to the family system,
and is well-respected.
Being able to work with the sewing project gives
her a way to be somewhat independent from
them and build her own life with God’s help. “I
can now make very complicated things and I can
speak to people with confidence. Someday I
would like to create my own workshop to help
street children escape from their misery.”
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