Comboni missionary presence in Skirlek
Our project physically started in a small room at Skirlek, Mamelodi East, in October 2024 thanks to the help and support of the benefactors that believed in our dream.
We are a team: sister Ida Colombo responsible of the project, sister Marta Vargas, both Comboni Sisters, and two women: Caroline and Ivonne. Ivonne is a South African and she lives in Skirlek, so she is a good reference and resource for the project.
The main objective or our project is to have a missionary presence in the periphery. Through different skills and activities, we engaged the community and started to know them. We also contacted the leaders of the community and presented our project.
The project has been developed by steps. First, with basic skills such as crochet and beadwork (bracelets, earrings…). To promote the handcrafts made in the project, but more specially the women who prepared them, we took place in different markets and displayed and sell the products.
Little by little more women approached us, and some ask about the possibility of having tailoring classes. In the meantime, Caroline and Ivonne took four months private tailoring course in order to become sewing teachers.
The first course started at the end of February with 7 women and continued until May. In June we added a new skill: multipurpose soap. With some of the women of the previous courses and new ones we learned the preparation of liquid soap, a project that still on going. The women and man (one male student) sell the product on their own under the condition of giving back a fee that covers the raw material, the profit that is left belongs to the seller. This principle rules all our skills, we recover the money spent in the material in order to buy more and, somehow, to sustain the project. The profit is for the person.
Two weeks ago, we started a new course of sewing with a new teacher. It is planned to last 2 months. The group is formed by 2 men and 7 women.
Our main idea is to respond to unemployment reality that reigns in the area through empowerment and skills. Overall for women but also for those men above 50 years old who struggle to find a job.
But we don’t do skills only. Our project is a space to pray together, gathering different religions or denominations. The project also helps them to grow in self-esteem. It is also a space to share together, dream together and even to find rest and relaxation. Those who have been part of it for a longer period are very responsible, they take care of the room and of the place. In these actions we see a sense of belonging and appreciation for the missionary presence.
Contemplating the past months and what is to come, we see that the project resembles the parable of the mustard seed: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field, which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.” (Mt 13, 31-32).
