BY MIKE PUIA
THESE words were uttered by Sandra Poloso, a simple mother from Choiseul province who is skillful in sewing and selling indoor items perfect for homes.
The items includes; clothholders, peg-holders, pillowcase, blouse, purse, door-mat etc. Sandra was among the ladies who displayed their products at a mini event held at the Kingdom Harvest compound, East Honiara over the weekend.
The event also coincides with the closing of an entrepreneur workshop that attracted local women and also women from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Many participants of the workshop are individuals with strong business backgrounds and individuals who wanted to venture into business. In one of the display stalls, Poloso have her products displayed.
She told this paper that she begins to sew in 2008. Sandra did not learn sewing and design skills in any training center.
No one even teaches her. She learned how to sew these items by self-taught via look-and-learn. At least she made full use of the cloth-roll she bought from the shop.
She would go out to shops and look up things to get an idea of how they were made. She would return and gave it a try.
“At times, I went to the shops and look at things, not to buy them but to get the idea of how they are made,” Sandra said.
Sandra is now regarded as an expert when it comes to sewing the above stuff.
She said she decided to sew because she gets bored at home when confined to her daily household chores and routines like washing, cooking and taking care of the children.
Besides her interest in sewing, Sandra tried something to generate income for the family. It did not work out well in the initial years but over time, she produced fine products.
Her neighbors noticed what she produced and started to show up at her home to buy.
“I sewed at my home and my neighbors are the main customers,” Sandra recalls.
Eventually, her customers started to grow. She said it was then that she realized the demand for what she produced.
“The demand for what I produce was high. I thought what I sewed were nothing. I realize people need these for their home,” the mother of “Any woman or girl can do anything. There are many things they can explore to generate income.”
The only time she would display her products to the public would be during Mere Markets. The market attracted women who are doing little things back in their homes to showcase what they produce.
The 45 year-old said her experience had taught her that there are many things women and girls can do to earn income.
She said their family relied on the husband to provide the daily needs of the family.
Since she starts sewing, her husband at times relied on what she earned. With the skills her mother taught, Sandra’s son also sew fine cap the mother display them next to her products.
Sandra said children can learn many important things outside school therefore parent must make it their role to pass life skills to their children.
She encourages other women, who have nothing to do, to do something instead of thinking low about them.
Sandra also encouraged mothers and girls to try out unique things and have them sold for income instead of considering one type of product.
Sandra said nothing is impossible if women and girls try.
