By Caroline Manu Moli

A local sewing program for women has produced 10 successful trainees who received certificates at Tu’atakilangi village on Saturday 9 April.

The “Pink Lepa Tali ki Langi Fashion and Design” program was taught by Kesaia Rivina Pome’e, a seamstress who has for the last seven years trained over 300 women and girls from villages around Tonga.  

Kesaia offers two month long training sessions twice a year covering skills in handling, basic sewing, cutting, and laying materials for patterns. 

“I was impelled by women from this village, Tu’atakilangi, who approached and asked for me to teach them how to sew.”

As a result of the training one of the students had sewn 42 garments, Kesaia said.

She said two who had gone on to complete diploma programmes in sewing had found opportunities to travel overseas for sewing contracts.

Kesaia is also a trainer for Tonga’s Business Enterprise Centre (TBEC) a facility under the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. and she regularly travels to other villages to train women to sew.

Presenting the certificates was TBEC Training Program Manager, ‘Ilaisaane Tupou. She congratulated the women and reminded them to look at other programmes.

 “There are programs provided by TBEC such as record keeping to help better manage income in the sewing business,” She said.

Also attending the ceremony was Deputy Commissioner Police Lau'aitu Tupouniua Sherman.