The Australian High Commission has donated 20 sewing machines to the Don Bosco Technical College at Alafua, which will boost a newly introduced sewing course. 

School Principal, Mane Su’a, thanked the Australian High Commission and the Australian government for its assistance, saying the sewing machines will enable the college to effectively roll out a new sewing course, which was introduced this year.

“I must take this opportunity to thank the Australian High Commission and the Government of Australia for their kind assistance and support in order for us to deliver this course,” he said.

“The course was designed to provide other learning avenues for continuing education and employability. As we all know, sewing nowadays is one of the employable skills, to enhance self-reliance and foster employment opportunities.”

The college previously only enrolled male students, but opened its doors for the first time to female students this year.

A female student, Ulata Naomi Urima, told Samoa Observer that she is grateful to the Australian High Commission for the donation.

“I am grateful to the Australian High Commission and the Australian government for gifting us with these sewing machines. This will be of great help to our school, we will make sure that we will use these machines well,” she said.

“Before we had these sewing machines, we had to do our practical sewing using the needle and it takes up a lot of time, we would also have to be cautious about it. With these sewing machines our work will be much easier and faster.”

Ulata’s dream is to become a sewer like her mother and the donation of the sewing machines now makes it possible.

The sewing machines were funded under the Australian High Commission’s Direct Aid Program with the monetary value put at T$10,000.