Woven Together in Goodness: The Dress for Good Initiative

At the Foundation of Goodness, our primary aim is to empower women with practical skills that enable them to become self-sufficient. We provide them with abilities that can assist in generating their own incomes. One such endeavor is the “Dress for Good” project, which encompasses our Dress Making Course. This course is made available free of charge at the OYOB Centre of Excellence and at our 17 Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centres.

This course stands out as one of the most favored choices among rural women in Sri Lanka. These women participate to grasp the fundamentals of dressmaking. We firmly believe that this initiative not only imparts knowledge but also instills a sense of empowerment within them.

Just over a year ago, the women at the Women’s Empowerment Centre at the Foundation were approached by designer Inosha from at Sahana Byron Bay in Australia. Inspired by Inosha’s vision, to assist these women in generating a stable income while acquiring essential skills, the Dress for Good Initiative was brought to life.

With Inosha and Alafiya, standing as steadfast mentors, the women at our Empowerment Centre, together embarked on a journey to crafting a modern garment from scratch, while each step was a challenge, it was truly a new stitch in the grand design. With unwavering determination, the women at our Centre have not just learned and discovered new skills; they have transformed. They have adeptly demonstrated the art of creating an enticing collection of garments with strong market appeal. Although a formidable undertaking, the women under expert guidance have undergone a remarkable learning journey. They have successfully navigated the complexities of sourcing requisite materials, deciphering consumer preferences, conceptualizing designs, crafting intricate patterns, and even embellishing their creations with exquisite embroidery.

The women who were part of the program also learned valuable life skills as they’ve learned how to talk about their creations and make things to promote their clothes. All of this has boosted their confidence and given them a better chance to do well in life.

With these skills, they are ready to thread their way through the fabric of life, each stitch a potential masterpiece of success and a symbol of empowerment.

The Foundation of Goodness, along with the teachers and beneficiaries of the OYOB Centre of Excellence, would like to give their extensive thanks to Inosha and Alafiya for their unwavering support in bringing this project to life.