A tailor-made solution
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
East-West Education (EWE) is a Sussex-based charity that sells ethnic dressing up clothes and dolls' clothes. The costumes are representative of different regions in Asia, Africa and China. Director, Daya Durai, and her fellow parishioners at a Sussex church have had a long-term collaboration with Oasis India, which promotes education and vocational training for disadvantaged young people living in Bangalore. Daya Durai's family originates from this area and she is a frequent visitor there. It occurred to her that the tailoring trainees, mostly young women from a nearby slum who have had limited education, could, after a year's training, make ethnic costumes for export to Britain where they are in so much demand in nurseries, playgroups and schools. They began with three Indian costumes in 2000 and became a registered charity the following year. EWE sponsors the trainees and employs them in the sewing workshop where they earn money to help support their families. The women gain experience in the workshop for two years before moving on to make room for the next trainees. However, with the new skills learned, they have a better chance of finding a job. EWE also supports other disadvantaged groups in a similar way. It orders wooden hangers and clothing labels from a boys' training facility, and kurta pyjamas, made at a school and training centre in Orissa for the deprived daughters of prostitutes, convicts and unmarried mothers.
EWE sponsors the trainees and employs them in the sewing workshop where they earn money to help support their families. The women gain experience in the workshop for two years before moving on to make room for the next trainees. However, with the new skills learned, they have a better chance of finding a job. EWE also supports other disadvantaged groups in a similar way. It orders wooden hangers and clothing labels from a boys' training facility, and kurta pyjamas, made at a school and training centre in Orissa for the deprived daughters of prostitutes, convicts and unmarried mothers.
The charity is operated by volunteers, to maximise the profits for these young people.
EWE has proved a very successful venture in the UK and is now receiving orders from the USA. Its range of dressing up clothes is increasing all the time. Originally, the clothes were made for four- to six-year-olds, but because of the demand from schools studying India in depth, the company now also makes items to fit nine- to 11-year-olds. The dolls' clothes are for dolls measuring 35 to 45cm high.
* If you would like the latest EWE catalogue, call 01444 236322.
URBAN MOBILITY
The latest addition to the Mamas & Papas range of pushchairs has, according to the manufacturers, been designed with 'city streets' in mind. The Pliko P3 Advance pushchair is intended to be 'tough, yet easy to manoeuvre' and comes with fleece linings, padded seats, side protection and all round suspension. The Pliko also has ergonomically-designed handle bars with two handle heights, a removable fabric hood with view window, a 'gate-style'
opening bumper bar with a protective 'soft-feel' cover and 17cm wheels, to facilitate a comfortable ride. Suitable from birth, the pushchair includes a raincover, removable seat covers, a three-position backrest and two-position leg rest, front swivel wheels with a lock option, an adjustable five-point body harness and a secondary locking device and a cup holder, priced Pounds 239.99.
* Telephone 0870 830 7700
