We have now solved some technical issues which mean that the slidedeshow of photos taken by Chris and Nicky on their recent visit to Freetown is back on the site!

Click here to see a larger version.

We have posted some new photos showing progress at the Useful Hands Centre in recent months. You can see them here.

Again we are grateful to Lady Hawkins School in Herefordshire, UK. A talent show, a non uniform day and donations from students and staff raised well over £1000 in the Christmas period. Our thanks to all involved for your generosity. A group of pupils are planning to do the “Three Peaks Challenge” as a sponsored event for Useful Hands. We look forward to hearing how they get on.

Midwives and staff from the maternity unit at Hereford County Hospital decided not to send Christmas cards to each other but to send money to Useful Hands instead. A total of £350 was raised which will be used to provide much needed birthing packs for the Traditional Birth Attendants. A huge thank you, to all who contributed so generously.

Christiana is a year two student. She says “I started summer school on the 10th August 2006. It was an experience I shall never forget. I started with tailoring."

"At the end of summer school we were asked to give testimonies. My own was tears, tears of joy because at that time I had finished the first stage of the training and have gone onto the machine. When school finally started I joined the gara class which I enjoyed. I can now sew and gara well. I am now proud to say that my life will not be the same again. Thanks be to God and to Useful Hands for a job well done.”

Edward says “I entered the centre in 2002/03, learning gara and batik. After my graduation in 2004 I was employed at the centre to assist the instructor in the gara/batik section. Praise be to God almighty and thanks to the sponsors and administration of UHTC which has not only become the channel for my salvation but also helped me to come out of poverty absolutely as I can now earn income for myself.”

Ramatu says “In 2001 I started the tailoring course at UHTC. The humble patience of my teachers helped me master the different stages. I graduated through the power of God and the homecell teachers with a top distinction."

"Today I have a tailoring shop, operated by myself, training young people within my locality. I can cut and sew styles of today’s fashions. I am sewing for all members of my family including my husband. I have a school uniform sewing contract and I get work from people I know in the provinces. God is using my hands and talent that prevents me from being idle. I thank God for all he has done and all he is still doing for me."

"I am very grateful to UHTC and God almighty for making me useful both in the community, my home and extended family.”

Aminata was given a one year scholarship by Useful Hands, training in gara, tailoring and catering. She says “the courses were a challenge but I have been able to benefit greatly. I now have customers for gara and sewing. I also cater for parties, marriages and naming ceremonies.” Aminata is now self reliant.

Work has started on a new floor above the tailoring and catering classrooms at the Useful Hands Centre. More funding will be needed to complete the building, which will provide much needed additional space for over subscribed courses. 

Many thanks to pupils and staff at Lady Hawkins School in Herefordshire. They gave £221-35p in the collection at their foundress day service in September.

This year's graduation was the biggest ever with about a thousand people attending. The students chose to wear academic gowns for the ceremony and looked quite magnificent!! Top students were awarded start up kits in catering and tailoring to enable them to get started with their own small business. A special day for a special training centre.