RTW training for 3

THREE women have just completed four months of intensive training in ready-to-wear (RTW)-making.
The women, two from Jiwaka, Western Highlands,  and Eastern Highlands, were brought to Port Moresby by Small Business Development Corp (SBDC) to further their dress-making skills at PNG Garment and Textile Development Institute.
SBDC hopes the skills they acquired would be imparted to others once they returned to their provinces.
Apart from meeting the cost for the women”s stay in Port Moresby, SBDC also bought two industrial sewing ma-chines at K3,100 each, which will be used to teach women back home make dresses.
The women are Tan Maki and Jeris Kundi, both sewing trainers at Kuling Star Vocational Training School in Minj, Western Highlands, and Anna Karapi, from Isametoka village in Goroka, an informal sector businesswoman who is already into making clothes.
SBDC business development manager Nathan Timo said the training programme was about “empowering women in rural areas”.
“A lot of women are getting into sewing and tailoring, and this particular project is all about empowering women in rural areas to improve livelihood, create employment opportunities and alleviate poverty,” he said.
Karapi said: “Over the 16 weeks (of training), I learned many new things and am now more advanced in sewing, especially in things like designing, pattern-making and actual sewing of the garments.
“When I go back home, I will be able to attend to all orders …  I’ve already got big plans to expand. What I have learned will not be wasted and I say this because there is no tailoring outfit in Goroka.”