fABRICATIONS: SEWING ARTS TRAINING CENTER

The Fabrications: Sewing Arts Training Center, launched in 2024 by the Mahaba Foundation and Youth Organization for Building African Communities (YOBAC) at the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, addresses the urgent need for vocational training and employment among displaced refugees, many of whom have limited access to education and economic opportunities due to conflict-driven displacement.

The center operates on a cohort-based model, offering weekly training in foundational sewing and advanced tailoring. Cohort #1 graduated in September 2024, with artisans successfully developing marketable skills and contributing to the Handmade with Love Collection, a cooperative initiative where graduates create high-quality, handcrafted products for sale. Cohort #2 began training in February 2025, continuing the center’s mission of providing practical skills and pathways to financial stability.

Mahaba Foundation and YOBAC provide start-up capital to graduates, enabling them to begin their own tailoring work or invest in other income-generating pursuits. This support is critical in helping the artisans transition from training to self-sufficiency, ensuring they can immediately apply their skills to generate income and build sustainable livelihoods.

Sustained funding will allow the center to grow, train more individuals, and enhance its programs, ensuring more refugees can develop skills, gain independence, and build sustainable livelihoods.

Every dollar from your Handmade with Love Collection purchase goes right back to the sewing center, helping to fund training, materials, and opportunities for future artisans to create, learn, and build brighter futures.

In Her Words

"Before, I was home doing nothing. I always dreamed of doing something good, but I didn’t know how. Now, I have the opportunity to create, to share my work with others, and to stand on my own. I won’t be dependent anymore. I can start my own business and teach others. This opportunity has given me independence, and that makes me very happy."

"I was in a place where I didn’t see a future. I had no way to change my situation. Now, I can do something. I have learned a skill, and I won’t keep it to myself. I want to share what I know and help others, just like I was helped."

"Before this, life was difficult. I struggled to send my children to school and find enough food. Now, I have a way to support my family. I can work, I can earn, and I can build something for my children. This has changed my life, and I am grateful."

"This is not just an opportunity for me. It is for my family, for my children, and for my community. I want to continue, to grow, and to make sure others can learn too. If you know something, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it, because when we help each other, we all become stronger."

Visit www.yobac.org to learn more about Youth Organization for Building African Communities (YOBAC)