Amani Liberia doesn’t just strive to
empower women. A few men are a part of the family as well. We hope to bridge
the historically wide gap between men and women by allowing a safe environment
of equality for them to work in together.
Ellis
At Amani, Ellis, 28 sews many
of Amani Liberia’s most complicated pieces, such as clothing with tricky pleats
and zippers. He also teaches the women to sew on Mondays.
“Faster, faster, faster!”
shouts a smiling Ellis, who is quick to laugh and very encouraging towards his struggling
students one recent Monday. He gestures expressively with his hands and is
eager to pass along his knowledge of sewing techniques. “They are improving, small-small
(little by little),” he says gratification. Ellis trains them to control the treadle
sewing machines and stitch straight. His trainees are currently working on a hot
pad.
Ellis is a happily married
man. He met his wife years ago when he was training to become a tailor, but he
waited a long time before he began to pursue a relationship with her. “I was
wanting to dress (move) to her, but I first wanted to make something of
myself”. So he began a small tailoring business, which he still runs part-time.
He and his wife have now been married for six years and share a two-and-a-half
year old little girl.
Ellis whole-heartedly believes
in equipping women with skills for a brighter future. “We need to get more
people to work here and encourage them to learn. We have more sisters in the
community, and Amani can help them.”
Ellis isn’t just helping to
empower this generation; he also has his sights on the next generation of
Liberian women, especially his daughter. “Amani can help me help myself to send
my child to school.”
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| Ellis |
Austin
Austin, 23, stitches a wide
variety of Amani products. “And, I fix the machines.”
he adds with emphasis. Austin is a savior anytime one of the treadle sewing
machines breaks down.
Although it takes Austin
about an hour and a half to walk from his home to Amani each day, he loves his
work---and his co-workers. “Their behavior is good towards me, and we are all
learning from each other.”
Austin is an integral part
of the Amani team for many reasons, especially during devotion. “We all pray,
and I drum!” he exclaims. A common prayer during devotionals is one of
thanksgiving for their jobs. “We pray for Amani, saying, ‘let it continue!’”
Austin lives with his
parents and extended family. “We are more than 10!” Austin says of his many roommates. When asked if Austin is married, he shakes his
head with a shy smile, saying, “No, but I got my girlfriend.” Austin explains
that he wants to save money and build a house before marrying her, and
the nearby women all interject vigorously, insisting, “Yes, he must first save
to build a house for his wife!”
This isn’t the first time
his fellow workers, almost all older women, have given him friendly advice. In
fact, a visitor to Amani might get the sense that Austin has a lot of older
sisters, always quick to offer clear instruction for life.
Austin has much to look
forward to, but has only one humble prayer for the future: “I want to be well
and come to work.”
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| Austin |
Morris
“I started sewing when I was
small,” Morris, 35, explains. He picked up his sewing skills from a smattering
of teachers. Morris was one of Amani Liberia’s very
first members. He is a skilled and creative tailor who helped to develop many
of Amani’s first products.
Morris lives in
Guinea close to the Liberian border, just a few miles from the Amani Liberia building. He has
been married for 10 years and has four children (5, 3, 2, and 1 years old).
Morris is appreciative of
his Amani paycheck, which he receives twice a month. “I can feed my family and
try to make small economy for myself so I can help myself for tomorrow,” he
says.
Morris paints a picture of the favorite part of his day, the evening. After work
he goes home, bathes, eats dinner with his family, and talks with his children
around the table. “I advise them to go to school and to be serious so they can
have a better future.”
When asked if he had anything else he’d like to share, he thinks carefully for a moment before answering. “I thank God for my life,” he says. His involvement with Amani came as result of a gentle urge from the founder of Amani ya Juu, Becky Chinchen. “I thank God for that,” he says earnestly.
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| Morris |
