Sewing the Seeds

Remember back in April when F?WF? was a member of The Victory Coalition in the drive to raise money for the Spirit of America and their plans to outfit Marine-built TV stations for Iraq? Here's an update on what our money got us.

SOA hasn't let up and are currently doing their part in "putting economic power in women's hands" with their "Sewing Machines For Women in Ramadi" drive. The first shipment of 50 machines has arrived. An article in the Marine Corps News tells the story of their delivery.

Marines with 1st Marine Division are helping to rebuild Iraq one stitch at a time.

With assistance from the Los Angeles-based charity Spirit of America, the division recently donated nearly $27,000 worth of equipment to the Ar Ramadi Sewing Center.

According to Lt. Col. John Lutkenhouse, 1st Marine Division plans officer for economic development, this is the first wave of sewing machine donations throughout the Al Anbar Province.

"The commander of the division understood that sewing machines would be a great way to improve Iraq's economy," Lutkenhouse explained. "The country's women will especially benefit because this will give them the opportunity to earn money and gain social empowerment."

According to Abdul Hameed Ibraheem, women were treated poorly during Saddam Hussein's regime. They were discouraged from attending school and finding employment.

Ibraheem, the Al Anbar Province director of economic programs, said all that has begun to change.

After the fall of the dictator, Ibraheem and other members of Iraq's newly formed government began working on plans for centers that would benefit the country's female population.

"The women will be able to make clothes for their families or to sell their products to make money for themselves and their families," Ibraheem said.

He said women who were fortunate to have jobs during Hussein's rule were paid less than $5 per month.

"Now the wages will be very good compared to before," he added. "The women will be able to afford food and transportation with the money they earn working at the centers."

Currently, there are two sewing centers in the province. One is located in Habbaniyah, and the other is Ar Ramadi. Both were renovated with funds donated by 1st Marine Division.

"We hope to work with the Marines in the future to get more of the centers open," Ibraheem said. "We're looking to eventually have eight in the province."

Besides sewing, the women working at the centers will also be taught several other valuable skills.

Computer, English, art and teaching classes will be available. The follow on classes will be funded by profits generated from sewing.

"We want to give the women of Iraq a place to work away from home," he explained. "And we want the women to have a chance to express themselves and have a place in society."

He expressed his gratitude to the Marines and Spirit of America for their help getting the centers up and running.

"I want to thank all of the men and women of America for making all this possible," he said. "It really is like a dream of ours is becoming a reality."

No better friend.

Ah, but what does this have to do with the TV station thing? Well, the new TV station covered the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new women's center. Here's part of an email sent to SOA by Major Holden Dunham on Monday, 6/28/04:

Dear Jim,

The local TV station we have been supporting with your donated media gear did a news spot on the new sewing center that opened in Ramadi. The station did a 14 minute segment set to music, with interviews of different people interspersed throughout the segment. The center has actually been expanded into what the Iraqis are calling a "Women's Center" (the sign reads in English below the Arabic, "The Organization of Creative Women in New Iraq"). The Iraqis will be planning use profits generated from the sewing to fund women's education (English, computer skills, etc). This is huge and is exactly the direction we are trying to drive things as it runs counter to the agenda of the extremists who are fighting to keep this part of the world mired in the dark ages. During the segment, they panned to new furniture (purchased by us), school-type desks and new computers (I believe provided by CPA), and of course, the sewing machines set up on tables, each one being its own sewing station. They are saying that 900 families will be supported by the center though I think that may be a little bit of an overstatement as locals here are sometimes apt to do.

[...]

There is still a fight here, but we are making progress.

Thanks again for the help.

Holden

These are the little things that just don't get reported. This is the way we are building up Iraq. This is something to be proud of.