Hopewell Valley Central High School senior Charlotte Prud’Homme with Seeds to Sew participants on her trip to Kenya during the summer of 2012.
Hopewell Valley Central High School seniors Anne Witterschein and Summer Kochersperger represent Seeds to Sew at the school’s Global Service Symposium.
Seeds to Sew’s new offices located at 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell Borough. The organization is set to host an open house at the offices Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Seeds to Sew International, Inc. is set to host an open house Feb. 22.
The non-profit will open the doors to its new offices at 14 Mercer Street in Hopewell Borough from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Seeds to Sew’s goal is improving the lives of women and girls in disadvantaged communities through education and job skills training.
The group runs programs in rural Kenya for women and girls to learn basic skills like sewing, beading, weaving and basic business techniques. The women use these skills to earn money to pay for school fees and support their families.
Seeds to Sew’s new office allows the organization to collect fabric donations from the community, facilitate volunteer activities, and showcase the work of the women and girls in their programs.
Currently on display are re-usable gift bags, beaded wristbands, necklaces, belts and dog collars and Kiondo baskets, which are woven from grass and recycled plastics and are made by a widows group in the Kikuyu village.
Founder Ellyn Ito said all of the net proceeds from handiwork sales are distributed directly to participants in Seeds to Sew programs.
“The money made from one Enkiteng Bag is more than a woman might earn in 4 or 5 days from selling vegetable from her farm,” Ito said.
Seeds to Sew is also engaged in several school communities. Students from Robbinsville Middle School, Hopewell Valley Central High School and Princeton University have volunteered through its student ambassador internship.
Last month, CHS senior Charlotte Prud’Homme traveled to Kenya to help with their programs and document the experience through her perspective. Additionally, CHS seniors Anne Witterschein and Summer Kochersperger represented Seeds to Sew for CHS’ Global Service Symposium.
More information is online seedstosew.org.
