MOSAIC is a community sewing project for the upliftment and upskilling of unemployed mothers with children (under 6 years). The project was born out of a deep concern for the young kids that have to sit day in and day out on the side of the road with their moms who have no skills and no employment.

MOSAIC stands for Mothers of South Africa in Community and the idea is that the moms work together to better themselves. We teach them to sew, they bring their small kids to work with them, sharing the childcare duties. Older kids are put into a crèche facility. The moms are paid while they learn new skills, both in sewing and basic business skills.

Once they have completed their training they graduate and are then given their own machines to go and start their own business, sewing for themselves in their communities, with our ongoing help. This makes space for new trainees in the project. The graduates also do the training of the new ladies, so the project is sustainable. Mosaic is a registered non-profit organization, number 085-816.

The women in the project make a gorgeous range of funky cotton clothing for kids as well as fairy and princess dresses and wraps for women. The clothing made in the project is sold to provide income for the women in the project. The project is also in desperate need of funding to allow for training of new women and for equipment. Information is on the website, you can also make a donation to MOSAIC Kids through www.changesa.co.za or call 083 604 0817. Email is mosaic1@mweb.co.za.

Duties will be divided among the mothers so that each mother will get a turn to perform a certain duty within the week, so that fatigue does not set in.  Cleaning, cooking and childcare will be undertaken by the participating moms and each one will get a turn to babysit, clean, cook, etc.  While some moms are sewing, others take care of the kids, clean the centre, and cook.  This works on a rotation basis. Mothers are given opportunity to advance to becoming trainers and training the new intake of mothers, thereby increasing the reach of the project.

Training will be conducted in shifts.  There will be an initial training session for sewing and each participant will get an opportunity to measure, cut and sew a garment.  Other crafts will also be taught as well as basic business skills and dealing with clients.

The initial training programme will run for 3 - 6 months, followed by advanced training and on-the-job training.  Moms that excel in their crafts will be given opportunity to become trainers for new intakes of moms.  Trainers will also be given further training in admin/management/retail skills.  Moms with management ability will be given further opportunity to run the facility, to run the retail trading department, or to open additional community centres and run those in other areas.

As the moms ‘graduate’ from the business, they are given further options.

Options would include either starting an own franchised business of Mosaic, or starting their own business.

In order to keep the size manageable to start with, we will keep the initial intake of moms to 5 and then 10.

Once the facility is running smoothly and the first round of training in all crafts has been completed, we will have capacity to increase the intake as there will be further trainers available from the first intake.

Once the Pilot Project is up and running (Benoni) another regional pilot will be started in Kwazulu Natal, leaving the graduates to run the Benoni branch and extending the job creation to another region.

The Mosaic project was born out of a deep concern for children and their welfare and in particular for the young kids that have to sit day in and day out on the side of the road with their moms as that is their only source of income.  For these children there is no childhood.  They have none of the things a normal 0 – 6 year old child would have.  No toys, no place to play, no safety, no shelter, no stimulation and no food or water.  It is extremely unsafe for them and a completely hostile environment.  We believe every child should have a place they can go to where they are safe, where they can play and develop, where they can receive appropriate stimulation and where they can have access to a good healthy plate of food and something to drink.  We also believe they should be near their mothers.

Project MOSAIC aims to provide a safe haven for these kids, while their moms are taught skills that will assist them to provide for their families and given an opportunity to work and earn a living.  Mosaic is a not for profit company.