American NGO repairs sewing machines

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 May 2005, 06:25 GMT]
Mercy Corps, a non-governmental organization headquartered in the USA has been implementing a three- month project in the Trincomalee district to repair sewing machines. Several women in the district lost their livelihood because of their sewing machines were damaged by tsunami waves, last year. The project has been formulated to assist these women to restart their income generating activities, Mercy Corps officials said.

The first set of repaired sewing machines were handed over to the owners at an event held Wednesday in Trincomalee town.

Mr.Sundaram Arumainayagam, Trincomalee Town and Gravets Divisional Secretary was the chief guest. He handed over the first sewing machine to a beneficiary under the project.

Mr.Sundaram Arumainayagam hands over repaired sewing machine to a beneficiary.

Ms Gretchen, Mercy Corps Trincomalee Programme Manager, Mr.John Sowinshi, Logistics Manager and Mr. K.Thangathurai, Project Officer spoke at the event. Mr.T.S. Thirunanthi, Manager, Singer Company, Trincomalee branch also participated in the event.

This service is done free of charge. However the Singer Company, which has undertaken the repair, is paid by Mercy Corps. The Trincomalee branch of the Singer Company has employed three mechanics to repair these damaged sewing machines.

(L-R) Ms.Gretchen, Regional Programme Manager, Mercy Corps in Trincomalee, Mr.Sundaram Arumainayagam, Trincomalee Divisional Secretaryand Mr.John Sowinshi, Logistics manager, Mercy Corps.

About 150 sewing machines damaged in tsunami deadly waves are now with the Mercy Corps repair shop, which is located in Trincomalee town.

Mercy Corps officials expect more damaged sewing machines for repairs in the coming days once the news reach remote coastal villages.