TSUMKWE, Namibia - At 57 years old, Indileni Sakaria knows exactly what it takes to turn a piece of fabric into a livelihood. As a seasoned tailor living in Mangetti Dune in the Tsumkwe Constituency, one of Namibia's remote areas, she has spent decades mastering her trade. Today, she is using that experience to mentor a new generation of tailors through the United Nations Population Fund Safeguard Young People Programme (UNFPA SYP) tailoring project.
For Sakaria, the project responds to a real need in the community. In Mangetti Dune, employment opportunities are limited, especially for young people.
“It is very difficult to find work here,” Indileni says. “When young people have nothing to do, many lose direction. We see alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancies, and learners dropping out of school.”
Through the workshop, Sakaria helps create a structured environment where young people can spend their time learning practical skills. Participants are trained to operate domestic and industrial sewing machines and make clothing items such as shirts and school uniforms.
Overcoming the challenges of commitment
While the project has brought opportunities, Indileni says keeping young people motivated can still be difficult. Learning tailoring takes time, and many youth are looking for quicker ways to earn money.
“Tailoring is not something you learn in one day,” she explains. “Some young people become discouraged because they do not immediately see results. In places like Mangetti, there are also not many tailors for them to look up to.”
As one of the project mentors, Indileni spends her days teaching trainees how to measure, cut fabric, and sew. Beyond technical skills, she also encourages them to stay patient and committed to the training.
A call for continued support
Indileni expressed appreciation to UNFPA and the Safeguard Young People programme for bringing the tailoring initiative and equipment to the community. She says the project has created an opportunity that many young people in the area did not have before.
However, she believes more support is still needed to help the workshop grow and reach more vulnerable youth. According to Sakaria, additional materials, fabric, and advanced training opportunities would help strengthen the project and improve its long-term impact in the community.
The UNFPA SYP Programme has been implemented since November 2013 to empower adolescents and young people aged 10-24. The programme’s objective is to protect young people from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, early marriages, gender-based violence, and harmful practices, while promoting gender-equitable norms and protective behaviours in East and Southern Africa.
The tailoring project is one of the many multi-sectoral interventions deployed by UNFPA SYP to build economic resilience and provide structured, positive engagement for youth in remote communities.
