APPROXIMATELY 150 bags were stitched by hand and machine in Launceston on Saturday, February 8 to help empower women in Uganda, initiated by a local student.

Launceston College student Jess Hill partnered with Jeanette Neale from craft workshop Red Cow to bring a joint event to fruition, in order to support and empower women in Uganda.

A group of Launceston sewers met together at Red Cow on Saturday, February 8 to support inspiring Launceston College student Jess with her women’s empowerment project.

Having visited Bunjakko School in Uganda previously, Jess was struck by the differences between educational opportunities for women and girls in Launceston and Uganda. She decided to raise awareness of the disparity of opportunity and to take action to enable girls to attend school, as well as helping women to become independent.

Jess said she was inspired by her first visit and believes it is important to ‘fight for the things that you care about and do it in a way that will bring about change’.

Jess is aiming to take 800 empowerment bags with her on her return trip. They will contain basic toiletry items and sanitary products. She is also fundraising to buy sewing machines, which will be used to make reusable sanitary towels that the girls at the school can sell within the local community to provide an income.

The Red Cow stitch-in event was supported by ten girls and ladies, many of whom take part in groups at Red Cow with the youngest being just ten-years-old. Together, they got their electric and hand-cranked machines whirring and whipped up 150 bags.

The simple drawstring bags were made with donated fabric which had kindly been prepped by Janet Vanstone and Pat Mallet.

Owner of Red Cow, Jeanette Neale, said: “It is a pleasure to be able to support our very own college students who are an inspiring group of young people. Many forget what amazing opportunities Launceston College provides our children to become adults that will shape our nation in the future. This empowerment project led by Jess is just one example of this.”

Jess would welcome donations of toiletry items that she can use to fill the bags. Donations can be handed into Launceston Travel in the White Hart Arcade, which has offered to be a collection point.

Jess is also being supported by the Rotary Club of Launceston and Girl Guides UK. Anyone wanting to use up any spare fabric to create 12” x 12” drawstring bags can drop them into the Rotary shop.

For further information about the initiative, contact Red Cow on its Facebook page.