UPCYCLE FOUNDATION SEWING PROJECT
One of the ways this approach is put into practice is through our daily sewing programme at Gardens of Grace in Newlands.
The programme runs every weekday morning from 9:00 to 12:00 and is open to anyone who is willing to attend consistently and commit to the learning process. There are no formal entry requirements. Progress is built through daily practice, repetition, and showing up.
Understanding the Sewing Training Program
Why we do what we do and the challenges we face
1. The Purpose of This Program
The sewing training program is designed to help unemployed individuals gain real, practical sewing skills that can lead to income and employment opportunities.
Our goal is to:
- Teach basic sewing and production skills, from unpicking and hand stitching to sewing straight lines, zips, folds, and topstitching.
- Build confidence and accuracy so that every participant can make a well-finished product.
- Help learners reach a point where they can start earning through what they produce.
This is not just a skills class—it’s a stepping stone toward building a sustainable livelihood.
2. How the Learning and Earning Work
Because we understand that learners need income, the plan is to combine training with production.
Here’s how it works:
- Learners start by making new products as part of their training.
- To master a product, they need to make at least ten of the same item before it’s ready for quality control and possible payment.
- Once a product meets our quality standards, it can be sold or added to shop stock.
- When that happens, learners may receive a small payment for their approved products.
- If a client order is behind the production, the payment can be higher. If the items are being made for stock (with no confirmed buyer yet), the payment is smaller because it’s self-funded.
This system helps everyone build skill, experience, and confidence while making the business side more sustainable.
3. Why We Can’t Pay for Everything Immediately
One of the biggest challenges we face is expectations around payment.
When learners are paid for a few items early on, it sometimes creates the belief that every single piece should be paid for — even those that are part of the learning process or still need to be fixed.
However:
- During training, there is a lot of unlearning, unpicking, and redoing work until the skill is mastered.
- Many products are made without client orders — these are used to train learners and build a portfolio of saleable stock for the shop.
- I often have to self-fund materials and payments to keep the program running.
- Some clients who do place large orders pay very low prices, which limits what I can pay out while still covering costs and keeping the lights on.
I try to support everyone fairly, but sometimes the funds are limited — not because I don’t value the work, but because I am constantly balancing training, production, and sustainability.
4. The Reality of Different Learning Speeds
Everyone learns at a different pace. Some people pick up techniques faster, others need more time and practice.
That’s okay — but it also means:
- Faster, more accurate workers may get more opportunities for paid work sooner.
- Those who attend more regularly and pay attention to detail progress quicker.
- Consistency and effort matter just as much as talent.
This is not about favoritism — it’s about readiness, quality, and accountability.
5. What I Ask from You
I ask every learner to:
- Approach the program with patience, commitment, and willingness to learn.
- Understand that this is free training, not a job. Any payment you receive during training is a bonus and recognition, not a salary.
- Focus on mastering the skills — the faster and better you learn, the more you can earn later.
- Communicate respectfully and honestly when challenges arise.
6. My Commitment to You
I am fully committed to:
- Teaching you practical, marketable sewing skills.
- Creating opportunities to earn where possible.
- Supporting your growth, both in skill and confidence.
- Running this program with integrity, fairness, and heart — even when it’s hard.
This is a partnership: I invest time, money, and effort to help you succeed, and I ask that you bring your dedication and understanding to make it work.
Together, we can build not just products, but opportunities.
As people move through the programme, trainers from the Upcycle team observe not only skill development, but reliability and readiness. Those who are able to reproduce sewn items consistently, at a high standard, are invited into advanced afternoon sessions. This progression is not automatic or time-based — it is based on demonstrated capability and commitment.
The afternoon sessions focus on production-level work. Participants refine their skills to meet the quality and consistency required for real orders, including items used in Upcycle’s corporate gift production. At this stage, skills translate directly into income opportunities, allowing people to earn from work they are capable of producing repeatedly and reliably.
This structure allows access to remain open, while ensuring that opportunities linked to income and production are grounded in readiness rather than assumption. It reflects our wider approach: welcoming everyone at the entry point, and allowing people to move forward through effort, consistency, and demonstrated skill.