Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Staff of MSTC

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Staff of MSTC Jane Madete - Manager Athuman Mlekwa - Senior Mechanic Christina Mdachi - Junior Mechanic

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Structure 1. What is it 2. Where is it 3. How it operates 4. Successes 5. Difficulties 6. Challenges

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 1. What is it? The MSTC is a joint venture between a Tanzanian organisation – Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) – and Tools for Solidarity. It was established to help the tailoring sector by providing 1. Material and training support 2. Increase the income generation of tailors 3. Improve overall maintenance of machines The project's main focus is 1. Rural women 2. Vocational training centres 3. People with disabilities

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre MSTC Centre at Mwanza Urban

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre MSTC Workshop and Office

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre MSTC Workshop – Checking treadles

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 2. Where is it? The MSTC (Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre) is in Mwanza the second biggest city in Tanzania It provides support in 4 regions, covering 150, 000 sq kilometres and a population of 9. 3 m, which is known as the 'Lake Zone Region'

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 3. How it operates It operates by proving a package of support to tailors (includes sewing machines, training and material support) within a self funding structure It employs 3 staff who 1. Refurbish sewing machines sent by TFS 2. Develop networks to notify tailors of the project 3. Carry out an assessment and selection process 4. Provide sewing machines and training to tailors within the project area

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre MSTC manager and chairperson of CHAWATA (Disability Organisation) Discus selection of PWD for support under funded programme

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 3. 3 Training is essential if tailors are to make the most of their machine and to develop new skills MSTC is supporting tailors by giving them training in 1. Operational and maintenance training 2. Design and /or embroidery training 3. Business training While attending training the tailors receive free accommodation, breakfast, lunch and the materials for the course The provision of free accommodation has more than trebled the numbers receiving training. Last year MSTC trained 340 tailors

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Tailoring training at SIDO Offices

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Tailors learning Embroidery Techniques

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 3. 6 Mechanics Training To help with maintenance of the machines MSTC selects people from different districts and provides a 1 month intensive course While attending training the mechanics receive accommodation, breakfast and lunch The mechanics also receive a bicycle and a tool kit to enable them to provide a repair service within their district

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Maintenance training “The training I got from SIDO-MSTC on maintenance and repair of sewing machines influenced my career, I’m now capable of undertaking all necessary maintenances to any kind of sewing machine. Currently, I have many customers from different places of Magu District, his helps me to be able of sustaining my livelihoods ” (Fundi at Nyamikoma)

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 4. Successes 1. Transfer of skills to local people running the project 2. MSTC allocates 3/400 sewing machines each year to tailors 3. Training for tailors in design and embroidery 4. Better maintenance by training mechanics 5. Development of locally produced treadles 6. MSTC has become a regional training centre and resource

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre MSTC has become recognized by the SIDO Headquarters as a training organisation, the only tool organisation in Tanzania that has gained such recognition

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 5. Difficulties: 1. Identifying tailors and working in districts far from Mwanza. 2. Treadle expensive to produce and need equipment to make them 3. Transport costs are high 4. Providing training is expensive and requires accommodation

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Treadles made in Mwanza

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Wheel Jig Designed and made By Joshua a local metal fabricator in Mwanza

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre 6. Challenges: 1. Maintaining and improving services require the support of organisations like TFS. Can MSTC develop other links to help it's work 2. Maintaining a supply of high quality treadles. 3. Providing training will play a more important role but how to finance this 4. Financially MSTC is being affected by high inflation and increasing material and transport costs. This affects the budget and money MSTC can generate

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Feedback From Evaluation 2011

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Accessing Machines Locally “I bought 2 machines from SIDO-MSTC which brought me dramatic business changes. I later on decided to employ two more people since my business was growing” (Tailor in Runzewe-Bukombe)

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Acquiring New Skills “Although I have been a tailor for quite some time, I could not know how to make suit but when I got the trainings on dress designing from SIDO -MSTC I started to make suits. Many people are now coming to me for suits this has really impressed me and helped to improve my income” (Female Tailor (35 yrs) Kwimba District)

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre Developing Networks “I have been working with SIDO-Mwanza since the inception of this project , but compared to so many other projects, we have through this project been able to increase our collaboration and networking with the community and all other actors. As I person, I see this is a success and an achievement to us all, (Co-ordinator, Magu))

Mwanza Sewing and Training Centre