Our Tote Bag Project marked the 25th anniversary of Nottingham Refugee Forum by showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of Afghan women supported through the Nottingham Refugee Forum Resettlement Project.
Two of our clients, Mrs. N.A and Mrs. M.S, who have a combined 25 years of experience in handicrafts, sewing, and boutique management in Afghanistan, led a team of six women for this initiative. The women received training on working in a safe environment from the our Employability Team, covering health and safety, safeguarding procedures, sign in/out protocols, session planning, and project smooth delivery.
This project allowed our clients to showcase their exceptional skills while also providing them with an opportunity to learn and develop their Project Management skills, including meeting produce delivery deadlines.
Our Resettlement Coordinator Aiza had this to say about the Project,
“It was such a joy to coordinate this project and witness the incredible dedication of the women as they created 30 Tote Bags to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We then proudly showcased the bags at our Refugee Week launch party, where we were delighted to see our bags sell for over £300.
One particular aspect of this that stood out to me was the group sessions, where our participants naturally got along with each other so well and showed great support for one another. I was also amazed at their commitment to this work, as they would rush to attend the sessions after their ESOL classes.
The cherry on top for me was that both project leads secured paid employment straight after this project within the textile and tailoring sector in Nottingham. The Resettlement Scheme Employability Team played a crucial role in assisting them with this opportunity, as their work in the tote bags was showcased to the employer beforehand. The project highlighted the importance of providing such opportunities, especially for women, to enhance their professional portfolios.
I’m immensely proud of this group!”
