A group of women, a handful of colouring powder, some African cloth, and a whole lot of creativity. This is the small dream coordinated by Sr. Vinnarasì Jakob Sellam and Sr. Ornella Garzetti for a group of women from the town of Mansoa.
The two sisters, Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate (PIME), have been working in the area of promotion of women for a long time. For the past two years, thanks to the training of a dozen of them in tailoring and the “tingi pano” (fabric painting) technique, they have invested in creating a small workshop that produces objects from African fabrics, tablecloths, and bed sheets using African painting techniques, similar to batik.
It is a small dream, one that is giving hope to this group of women and to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate, who in recent years have been involved in a program to scale back their activities, including in the area of women’s advancement.
To learn more about this, let us hear from the Project Coordinator: Sr. Vinnarasì J. Sellam – MSI, who is in Guinea Bissau since 2011 and works in the area of women’s promotion since 2017.
Sr Vinna, what is the biggest challenge to work in this field?
The biggest challenge is that women in Guinea are unable to concentrate on a single professional career. They take on multiple chores and numerous odd jobs at the same time. It is not their fault, but the worry about providing food for their families and paying for their children’s schooling forces them to take on multiple jobs. Considering that most Guinean men do not cover the cost of family life, it is the women/mothers themselves who have to do it.
In your opinion, what needs to be improved in this area of work?
In my opinion, it would be important to help them understand the importance of committing and dedicating themselves to a single, stable professional career, without thinking they can take on multiple jobs for a quick liability. Furthermore, they should be trained in financial management: especially by understanding the importance of saving rather than spending.
As a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate, Why did you decide to invest in this dream of offering women an opportunity?
I decided to dedicate myself to tailoring and dyeing clothes so that these women can have a suitable job for their future, and to display their products and skills. Furthermore, it is a way to cover most of their household expenses.
What is the greatest satisfaction in working in this field? What have you learned from Guinean women?
The greatest satisfaction is seeing them work together and the happiness of knowing that I have contributed in some way to the development of their passion for living with dignity.
What they taught me most is that, despite the difficulties, there is always hope for a better future; where by, always moving forward, to face problems with courage.
… The colours of women light up our hearts with HOPE!
Sr. Anna Marini, Guinea Bissau
