Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Just over a year ago, Sewing Seeds International decided to set up a sewing school in the Volcanes neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. The plan was to bring hope for a better future by empowering women, giving them the skills and help to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

When the announcement was made through the Volcanes Community Education Project (VCEP), more than 100 ladies submitted applications, and plans were put into play.

Ramon Guerrero, the Mayor of Vallarta at the time, backed the program by guaranteeing a rent-free lease of a building to ensure the project's success and, after a few renovations, the former Kindercare facility soon became home to the first class of twenty-five eager sewing students.

Sewing Seeds provided sewing machines for the school, plus materials, along with the training. Most of these students had never even sat behind a sewing machine before - they were just looking to save money by making clothes for their family, or make money by sewing for others.

After practicing all the skills they were taught in the two weeks of Beginner classes, these students moved on to four-month-long Intermediate and Advanced classes, where students learned to care for their machine, cut fabric, create patterns, and assemble some very complicated projects.

Graduates of the advanced classes were now able to teach beginning classes and continue the initiative. Today, the Volcanes sewing school's first 'solo' class has graduated, and a third class of seventy-five students has begun to learn the necessary skills to become professional seamstresses. In fact, every afternoon the classroom is transformed into a 'factory' where the school's top students are sewing uniforms for a local hotel, and taking on contract sewing projects for a few local designers.

The potential for these students is endless and inspiring. Funds and planning are now underway to build a small factory to employ the school's graduates. Eventually, this factory may be able to supply boutique shops, school & professional uniforms, upholstery shops, etc. Meanwhile, the Sewing School will continue to ensure a good supply of trained professional seamstresses are available for the needs of the factory.

Sewing Seeds is very proud of the students' accomplishments, but at the same time recognizes that they are largely due to the efforts made by Arthur Fumerton and the Volcanes Community Education Program (VCEP) in Puerto Vallarta. This non-profit organization's dedication to seeing the ladies of Colonia Volcanes learn a useable skill and trade is very impressive!

Sewing Seeds Canada has received emails from Mazatlan, Playa del Carmen, and Pueblo. These Mexican communities too, are interested in partnering in a 'self sustaining' project in their community. The Dominican Republic has expressed interest for 2017.

Sewing Seeds International (funded by Sewing Seeds Canada), is a Registered Canadian Charity working in Mexico, Ukraine, Sierra Leone, and Peru. For more information, contact Kelly Grams at grams.kelly(at)gmail.com, SewingSeedsCanada.com or via Facebook.

To learn more about the Volcanes Community Education Project, contact Contact Arthur Fumerton at artfumerton(at)gmail.com. For tour and donation information, call 322-158-8815 or visit the VCEP Facebook page. Fabric and Sewing supplies are always welcome donations.