Lydia's story

Lydia was just 14 years old when she came to Oasis in 1998 to do the tailoring training course.  She had dropped out of school at 12 and was sent to live with a lady to help with the housework.  Her mother worked there as a maid.  The lady heard that Oasis was starting a free tailoring course for girls from the slum and encouraged Lydia to attend.  Despite her youth she exhibited interest, skill and application. “I felt very sad that I could not continue my studies at school so I enjoyed the weekly English classes.” 
After the year’s course she was married off to her mother’s young cousin as is the custom in her community, against advice from the Oasis staff since she was so young.  However, Lydia continued at the workshop after marriage learning to sew the first dolls’ clothes for East-West Education.
Lydia continued to work even after her daughter was born a year later as grandma was able to help look after the baby.  After a few years the staff recognising her potential, appointed her the trainer for the tailoring course.  Taking advantage of EWE’s offer to pay for tuition, she was finally able to complete her school exam, despite having another baby. 
In 2006 she was promoted to the EWE Workshop and gradually learnt to take orders for sewing for others including clients abroad, learning planning, pattern making and costing on the job.  She and her husband were able to move into a tiny two bedroom flat of their own, after years of living with her mother. 
Last year she expressed her desire to do a one year course in Designing and Merchandising.  With its aim to empower women, EWE paid towards the course fees.  She chose ‘Children’s Clothes’ as her focus.  (See photo above on the right where Lydia is with her ‘models’ walking down the catwalk at the graduation programme.) “I am very grateful to EWE because I was able to come up in my life.  Without EWE I would not have been able to finish school or go on to the Design course which I had been longing to do for sometime.  This course will be very useful for my career and I look forward to having a better job.”