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  • Home
  • Donate
    • General Donations
    • Atelier Angels
    • 3 Esthers Farm
    • Support The School
    • Building Fund
    • Financial Accountability And Trust
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Our Story
    • The Big Mission Behind Our Little Purse
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
  • 3 Esthers Farm
    • Farm Blog
  • Purse Project
    • Get Beginner Purse Pattern
    • Get Intermediate Purse Pattern
    • Purse Sew Along Training Video
    • Packing Slip for Purses/Notecards
    • Where To Send Purses
    • Notecard Tutorials
    • Purse Program Overview and Details
    • Why Reusable Pads Are The Right Answer
    • Watch Our Unboxing Parties
    • Is There A Period Gap?
    • The Power Of A Beautiful Gift
    • Delivering Purposeful Products In Zambia
    • Donating 15,000 Days Of School
    • Sew Powerful University Challenge!
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Zambia Trip
    • 2019 Unboxing Party
  • Resources
    • Event Resources
    • We Are Sew Powerful Book
    • Podcasts
    • Book Companion Pictures
    • Printables
    • Videos
    • Packing Slip for Purses/Notecards
    • Service Project

Our Story

Our Story


 

We Are Sew Powerful Companion Presentation

 

 

 


Why do we care so much about sewing in the developing world? It’s been a long journey. Here are a few of the milestones…

Honduras – on one of Jason’s first trips with World Vision he met Maria, a mother of a young boy with Down Syndrome. Her story was heart-breaking and instructive. She had a simple problem – her son was getting close to school age, and the local school had no ability to assist with his special needs. She needed to get him into a special school on the other side of town each day, but she was very poor. As a micro-enterprise opportunity, World Vision helped her purchase a sewing machine and set up a sewing business. She had her small home filled with stacks of clothes. Her specialty had become gym shorts and tank tops and she sold a lot. With the money she was able to send her son to the special school, and make a better life for her family. It was a simple solution.

Years later in South Africa we met a group of women who were faced with a difficult situation. They were the only ladies in their community that could care for an orphaned baby boy. They decided to raise him together, but they were confronted with a challenge – they were totally broke. The solution? World Vision provided them with a sewing machine and supplies – so they could sew & sell in order to generate enough money to care for the boy. They made beautiful blankets, and they earned enough to keep him well cared for. Their small cooperative served it’s purpose well, and the ladies and their boy were happy.

In Romania we met women who worked 12 hour days in a sewing factory – for exclusive Italian designers. They earned just $100 a month, but the train fair was $30 a month. So for a month of work, they only brought home $70. Factory work wasn’t the answer. They needed their own sewing machine, their own small business opportunity. We became passionate about making that a reality.

Then there is Zambia. In Zambia we met Esther Mkandawire. At the time she is trying to support 475 orphans in a poor community known as Ngombe – since then that number has increased to over 1,200. Her and the community caregivers that help her work hard to make sure the children are safe and fed, but there is simply no money to do anything more. They asked us if we could help them set up a sewing course and a sewing cooperative so that they could sew & sell as a way to generate income. Empowering their sewing cooperative has become our obsession.

Finally there was Dixon California. In 2008 we needed to make an extra $1,000 a month to help pay our bills, so we decided to build a business around Cinnamon’s design and sewing skills. Liberty Jane Clothing was born. Now it is growing quickly and we are incredibly grateful for the blessings we’ve been given. In 2013 we launched Pixie Faire, the largest doll clothes pattern marketplace on the Internet. If circumstances were different, and Cinnamon was in any one of these countries, trying to grow a sewing business, we would have had a much harder time. Sew Powerful is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to God for his incredible blessings in our lives.

Through all these experiences we’ve become convinced that empowering seamstresses is what we’re destined to do.

Read more about our start-up efforts here.

We hope you’ll decide to join us on this exciting adventure.

Jason & Cinnamon Miles

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About Us

We exist to educate, employ, and empower people to pursue life in all its fullness. We do that by creating purposeful products that change communities. Things like school uniforms, soap, feminine hygiene pads, and farm fresh food.

Our Social Justice Statement

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Our Corporate Sponsor

We’re thrilled that a growing number of online retailers are supporting our work including Pixie Faire Liberty Jane, Home Sew and Quality Sewing.

To learn more contact us via email today!

Volunteer Jobs

Give Today

We’d love to have you join us in our mission of combating extreme poverty by giving generously in support of a seamstress today! Give Now Read about our Financial Accountability Here

Reach Us At:

P.O. Box 2299

Auburn, WA 98071

Sew Powerful Purse Program

Our annual Sew Powerful Purse program enables girls to stay in school. Purses are made and sent to Zambia as gifts. The local seamstresses in Zambia make re-usable hygiene pads and together they are provided to girls as part of health (MHM) training. Get Involved

Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 45-3327800

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Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 45-3327800

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