“Here we are like a family. We’re working very close and understand each other. It has made my life better, it even made me a better person. I can now make a difference in someone’s life and this job has opened my eyes to help and give a hand to those in need.”
Photography: Phinius Sebatsane
20-04-2021
Est. 3 minutes
Meet Dorothy from Cape Town, one of the 10 hard-working women at Sheltersuit South Africa’s production facility.
Although we have been producing Shelterbags in South Africa since 2020, we have finally found a location from where we can begin to scale our operations. Welcome to Studio 196, the new home for Sheltersuit in Cape Town.
On the lower level, we currently have 8 sewing machines where our dedicated team is already producing up to 450 Shelterbags per month. The upper level is envisaged as a skills development and training department. This is a key part of the total Sheltersuit story that helps previously unemployed and unskilled people break the poverty cycle and enter the workforce.
Before joining our team, Dorothy worked in a factory as a seamstress and volunteered in a community center to teach young people how to operate sewing machines. Last year, during the pandemic, she lost her job. That’s when she met Lyn (director of Sheltersuit SA) and got a job at Sheltersuit, where she is now a supervisor.
Since Dorothy joined Sheltersuit South Africa’s team, she has helped make more than a thousand Shelterbags for the homeless community in Cape Town.
“It is a privilege to work at Sheltersuit and to have a job in this pandemic because they are no jobs out there. Sheltersuit is helping us to put food on our tables.”
– Dorothy
“My ladies are dedicated and they love what they do. We moved into this new location one month ago. Already, our storage area is packed to the ceiling with Shelterbags! Right in time for the start of the winter in South Africa.”
– Lyn, director Sheltersuit SA
Dorothy works with a team of 10 amazing women.
Each of them is very dedicated and committed to producing Shelterbags that are filled with love and hope to those in need in Southern Africa and across the world.
“Here we are like a family. We’re working together very closely and understand each other. It has made my life better, it even made me a better person. I can now make a difference in someone’s life and this job has opened my eyes to help and give a hand to those in need.” – Dorothy
“We always think it’s celebrities or people with a lot of money that can help, or make a change in other people’s lives. But it’s just me and you. If you are available, then you can be the help to that next person.”
– Prudence
