by Chris Conti
21 September 2011

Sabina’s mother sold her as a slave when she was only seven years old. She never learned to read, and was mistreated and abused most of her life. The cycle of poverty continued: Sabina’s young daughter also became a mother, and soon had five children.

A grandmother before her time, Sabina kept one of the children to raise. They lived in a shanty-town and she found work at the local market. With her 5-year-old granddaughter, she would stay up all night to make sure no one stole from the stands, which was a very dangerous job.

Sabina had little hope of escaping from poverty until she joined the Patchwork Project. She now earns a living, and can be at home to care for her granddaughter.

One drop in an ocean of need

	Women learning quilting techniques at the Patchwork Project

Elisabeth Walder, an SIM missionary from Switzerland, started the Patchwork Project in Lima, Peru. It provides mothers with income and a trade, so that they can be home with their children.

Women in poor areas often sweep streets or work as maids 12 to 16 hours a day, leaving their children home alone. Shanty-towns are known for abuse and many other dangers, yet children as young as five are left to take care of even younger children. But Sabina, and the rest of the “Patchwork” group, can now stay home with their children.

Elisabeth started Patchwork by teaching classes on quilting. Once the women had gained skill, they took on various quilting and craft projects. According to Elisabeth, they catch on quickly to the basics of sewing and patchwork. However, they often need to learn about color matching and may need to work on their needle skills. “They have to learn to be detailed – no short cuts,” she explains.

The women come to Elisabeth’s basement workshop twice a week for a half day. Then they take work home with them. If there are orders, they will work about 20 hours a week. And they are encouraged to find their own projects too.

The Patchwork Project provides sewing and quilting tools that the women can take home, and work that requires sewing machines is done when they are together. They take a break each work session to hear a devotional. Elisabeth tries to apply messages that speak to the group’s needs. Knowing that Peruvians are relational, she and her team invest time in each person. They see a big difference, especially now that they are working with a new group of women who will soon be joining the established group.

“The older group has grown in self-esteem and security,” says Elisabeth. “They trust more and they have bonded and developed friendships. They are more thankful and they are more engaged with the gospel.”

Rubina, one of the women in the first group, says that she has learned what teamwork means. “We help one another, share with one another and really need one another. Together we can do beautiful and really big things!"

Elisabeth admits that the project has changed her too, as she has become more patient when she is creating something beautiful. “With quilting, you can’t do everything fast, and neither can you when you are teaching Peruvian ladies.”

Patchwork’s goal is that each woman would be able to make her own projects and start a small business from her home. The group is small right now (14 women) and is only one drop in an ocean of need, according to Elisabeth. “I think it is a valuable drop, but I would like much more initiative taken to make a change for the millions living in poverty in Lima.”

She would like to build a team of Peruvians who could work with her, and then some day take over the project completely. She has a passion to teach the middle- and upper-classes to care for those less fortunate. In Lima the upper classes lack social conscience, and even look down on the poor. Elisabeth says that she has tried to address this problem through Bible studies.

Two Peruvian women from the upper middle class, Anita and Nelly, make up the Patchwork leadership team, and they treat the group with dignity, which is a testimony in itself. Anita and Nelly say that it gives them an opportunity for ministry, that they enjoy helping others and that it is a blessing to serve.

Security for Sabina

Last year, the Patchwork team, along with other donors, helped Sabina build her own house. The modest 7 by 3 meter home is the most secure place she’s ever lived.

	Sabina's old home

	Sabina's new home

Elisabeth says that Sabina is eager to work, and is the busiest in the group. For the past three years, Sabina has been attending church and taking her granddaughter, who has also shown a great excitement for the Lord. "I am very thankful for the income and happy about learning more from God's Word," she says.

Sabina told the Patchwork team that she never knew how to show her love to her daughter or her granddaughter. When she started to understand more about Jesus, she prayed that he would help her change her attitude towards her loved ones. Today Sabina is more patient and loving, and is able to hug and kiss her granddaughter.

If you would like to place an order or find out more about this project, visit Patchwork Project.

How you can help

The Patchwork Project needs marketing and connections. They want to sell items both in Peru and abroad. Donations of quilting items are welcome, especially tools to loan the women so that they can work from home. “Most quilting tools and fabric have to be imported, because it is hard to get quality items here,” says Elisabeth.

If you would like to donate to this project, contact your local SIM office, quoting project number PE 91895.