Earning a living from car seat covers

By PETER ESILA
JOHN Timothy, 42, has been making a living selling homemade car seat covers in Port Moresby road sides since 2004.
The father of four from Eastern Highlands makes the seat covers from cotton extracted from coats and bed sheets bought from secondhand shops.
John, who did not go to school, first learned to sew from relatives and decided to make car seat covers because of the large number of cars in the city.
He lives at East Boroko and sells his seat covers daily at road side spots in Boroko.
He said the profit goes to paying school fees for his children.
His three children are attending Coronation Primary School – in grades 7, 3 and prep while the fourth is at home.
John said more Papua New Guineans owned cars and there was a demand for car parts and accessories.
He gets requests from PMVs (buses) and taxi operators.
He said he also makes steering wheel covers.
This was his only form of income.
“Living in the city is a struggle,” he said.
“I must think of my family.
“It is from these sales that I sustain my family.”