Yesterday was graduation day for our second class to complete  6 months of  intensive training for sewing. These ladies (and 1 gentleman!!) were all awarded completion diplomas in a special ceremony at all 4 of our city services yesterday and treated to lunch in the afternoon. The outfits you see them wearing in the pics were all made by the graduates as part of their training. This is an incredible project which began with an idea from Pastor Chipo along with some other Celebration ladies that we could permanently impact lives by teaching a skill that could be used in the marketplace. Through the efforts of Pastor Kerri and our SHINE ladies at the conference in 2008 we were able to purchase a number of industrial grade sewing machines as well as fund the instructor and materials for the first graduating class. With help from another generous donor we were able to fund the second round of  graduates you see in the pictures. Its just amazing to see the pride and joy instilled in these people in learning a skill that can help them to support themselves and their families. We have already been able to bless some children with school uniforms and we  pray the economic climate here will continue to improve and that we will eventually obtain contracts to  turn this into not only a self supporting venture but a profit center as well.