First Day of Classes

On Monday, the first day of classes, 12 women arrived at Canada House. They are all widows, with the exception of Joy, who is our translator, and Alice, who is teaching the women how to use treadle sewing machines. Three women have had previous sewing experience, and here Mauda and Stella are examining one of the samples I brought with me to see how it is made. Meanwhile Lydia is practicing and practicing to get the rocking motion necessary to operate the machine. Yesterday we discovered that she has poor eyesight, and are taking her to the clinic to get her eyes tested (something she has never been able to afford).