Caught in a stitch

It was Lina Salhi's dream to start a training project to help underprivileged women by teaching them skills. The initiative took off three months ago ... then stalled. Now she's looking for assistance, writes Carolina D'Souza

Like a furious gust of wind gathering momentum, Style It - a non-profit, charity training project - blustered into the UAE three months ago.

Donations stormed in. Then a paid-up studio apartment, sewing machines, tailoring raw materials and a tailoring teacher. Reels of coloured thread, tinselled gossamer lace, sparkling sequins and skeins of coloured beads lay strewn on serried tables.

Bedouin, Iranian and Baluchi women and girls worked while indulging in light-hearted, desultory conversation. Their soft voices nearly drowned by the harsh drone of the sewing machines.

Extra raw material was trussed in a pile in one corner of the flat.

More material was placed in overhead shelves. A whiteboard displayed careful sewing instructions in blue and red markings with annotations in Arabic.

At times, you'd hear a folk tune being hummed or a burst of unrestrained laughter as sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet products were produced with love and passion. The appurtenances of craft-in-progress were clearly evident in that studio apartment.

Today in its place is a disquieting silence.

As though you have stepped into a RIP place. "We seemed to have reached a cul-de-sac," says Lina Salhi, a 24-year-old Syrian-Canadian with a careworn expression on her face.

"Our tailoring teacher got sick and returned to her country. And my partner, who doesn't want to be mentioned, left for personal reasons," she says solemnly. Now that responsibility has fallen squarely on Lina, and she cannot handle it alone.

Off to a flying start
Style It was launched in association with Connexionz club at The University of Wollongong in Dubai. The project's aim is to help women in need by teaching them skills to help them produce high quality crafts.

Lina and her former partner used to run it. "We made a good team. My partner had the expertise and experience in design and business planning. I had the connections with sponsors and one-to-one relationships with these women from the northern emirates," she says.

An ongoing charitable cause
Lina has been a votary of charitable causes since her student years.

In 2003, she was one of the first few members of The Islamic Club at the American University in Dubai (AUD). The members identified underprivileged women in the UAE and helped them by raising money.

As an active student member, Lina participated in the club's activities, which included charity sales and visits to poor families in the UAE.

Members collected unused and unwanted items such as clothes, books, shoes, bags and home appliances from wealthy families. These were then sorted, labelled, priced and sold. The proceeds were used to pay utility bills, education fees and other needs.

However, ameliorating their condition through charity money was effective as a short-term goal.

"We soon realised money is not a panacea. It only aims to help in a limited way for a limited period," says Lina.

So the club started with another project called Reach Out. "We wanted to continue to offer help and support. This time by identifying key skills and helping them produce items at home," she says.

The lessons learnt from The Islamic Club's charity initiatives came togeter to form Style It. "These women need a sustainable source of income. When we launched Style It earlier this year, we selected eight people - five women and three girls from Ajman. They are orphans, widows or poverty-stricken mothers," says Lina.

"It is a place for them to learn skills. In fact, all of them are dejected because the training classes have stopped," she says.

The Connexionz club's sales team helped Style It sell its crafts at a recent event at the University of Wollongong.

"These (women and girls) do not have the business or language skills to sell. Luckily, donations have never been an issue. We have never had a dearth of sponsors. In fact, our (Style It) start-up and running costs are taken care of. What I need is administrative support. I cannot manage this project myself," she says.

Philanthropists and sponsors donate either anonymously or through the University of Wollongong. "Those who need an official receipt can get it through the university," she adds.

A few women in this select group do not have the wherewithal to meet even basic needs and this fact saddens Lina.

"Initially, I thought six months will be enough to get this programme rolling," she says. "The plan was to use the income to pay the women, and reinvest the rest into materials and development of the project."

Identifying training needs
Lina is greatly inspired by designer Sarah Beydoun, who employs former women prisoners to make her designs.

"She teaches them the skills. Her designs, which range from handbags, sashes and wooden bangles, are handmade, and are hugely popular. The important message is she gives these women hope. I want to do something on similar lines," Lina says.

The people she selected for this training programme are alert and committed. "They are so happy to get this opportunity," says Lina.

When Reach Out was first launched it was received with ambivalence; the women selected were unsure about what it would bring.

"Some ladies decided to allow the club (The Islamic Club) to help them - with reluctance," says Lina.

"When the time came to approach them again with the Style It programme, they were overcome with joy and excitement. I was surprised at their amenability," she says.

"The reason the selected group is of diverse ages is because the older ladies have the skill, but not the patience for new and intricate work. Whereas the younger ones do not have the skill, but are brimming with passion and energy."

After selecting the group, training needs were identified - sewing, art and crafts, designing accessories, etc. And experts were sought. Lina contacted 20 teachers, including a visual communication student, shawl designer, accessories designer, box designer, art and crafts teacher, sewing teacher and jewellery designer.

Five have already expressed eagerness to work for a modest fee or a percentage of the sales proceeds.

"In fact, we have everything to relaunch Style It," says Lina, who also works in a family-run real estate business, and is studying Islamic Law, her second bachelor's degree.

Selling through exhibitions is easy, she says. Style It has participated in the Marina Market, MBC Mother and Baby exhibition, Pet Show, Iftar @ Wollongong University 2006 and the International Night at the AUD.

"Exhibitors readily agree to give us free stand space. I am not worried about sales or exhibiting. I want to concentrate on identifying viable products.

"Some of these include jewellery, handbags, gift bags, shawls, knitted and crochet work, home decor, and gift for newborns. Training needs will then be met according to the product that needs to go on sale," she says.

The cavalry arrive
Style It has also secured the support of organisations such as Dubai International Arts Centre, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Mattar Fine Arts Center, Artists of the Emirates (Arte) and Swarovski. Even teachers have agreed to work part time. The plan to produce these goods is in place.

"From experience, I know bulk orders will work best. We can even sell through catalogues," says Lina, who is a bit thrown off by the thought of reviving her idea alone.

"Ideally, I need at least two people to volunteer with the running of the business, but even one with passion will do! I have to resuscitate the project. It has been my dream since my student days. I need to make sure it won't die midway again. There are so many who want to help. I have to honour the trust and generosity of all the charitable people."

Emboldened by this and the enthusiasm of the present team of eight, she says she has to find a way.

Lina Salhi can be contacted at linasalhi@hotmail.com