At the Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP), the Stitch Ahead programme is doing far more than teaching the basics of sewing—it’s cultivating confidence, resilience, and economic opportunity for young women from vulnerable communities.
While the core aim remains teaching learners the basics of sewing, the 2024 cohort has already demonstrated what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. To fast-track their growth, six women were handpicked to take part in a real-life production experience: crafting swimming bags for the Waterfront Canal Challenge, proudly hosted by the Rotary Club of Waterfront. These bags weren’t just products—they were proof that these women had the grit, skill, and focus to deliver quality under pressure.
The space where this happened—the Stitch Ahead Micro-Factory—is a simulated work environment that helps learners transition from classroom theory to workplace reality. This space does more than teach; it empowers. It gives women, many of whom are survivors of gender-based violence and come from gang-affected areas, a space to build confidence and take ownership of their economic futures. In fact, all machinists in this cohort have overcome unimaginable odds, including living in shelters, shacks, and overcrowded households.
In parallel with their sewing work, learners (machinists) also enrolled in the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) course at SIYP’s Smart Work Centre. Despite having little to no prior exposure to digital tools, these determined women embraced the opportunity, pushing through nerves and self-doubt. Five out of the six machinists successfully completed the course—a remarkable achievement given the time constraints and the dual demands of sewing production and digital upskilling.
Jo da Silva, Business Development Manager at SIYP, shared her pride:
“We are incredibly proud of them all. We need to remember that we are helping shape confidence in individuals who often come from deeply disadvantaged backgrounds. Building self-belief is a major challenge when working with communities living below the poverty line. One of the learners attempted the exam twice, and while a third try might have done more harm than good, we had an important conversation about the difference between nerves and knowledge. She knows the material—and with access to a computer at home, she can continue building her confidence in her own time.”
Through repetition, support, and a real sense of purpose, these women are not just learning to sew or use a computer—they’re reclaiming agency over their futures. The Stitch Ahead programme proves that when opportunity meets commitment, transformation happens—one stitch, one step, one success at a time.
