From survivors to entrepreneurs: How a free sewing program is empowering women in Vic Falls

Charity Nyoni/Tracy Moyo

While many despair over rising gender-based violence, one organization in Victoria Falls is doing more than just talking—it’s transforming lives stitch by stitch. Meet Reach Out Trust, a local initiative turning survivors into self-sufficient entrepreneurs through a free sewing program that’s already changing the futures of 45 women.

Located in Mkhosana, Victoria Falls, Reach Out Trust has enrolled 45 women in a skills revolution—a free sewing course designed to break cycles of abuse and poverty. But this isn’t just about tailoring; participants also learn leadership, marketing, and financial management, equipping them with tools to build sustainable livelihoods.

“We target vulnerable women—those affected by domestic violence, divorce, and economic hardship,” says Isaac Dube, the Trust’s Executive Director. “This isn’t just skills training. It’s a lifeline.”

Launched in January 2025, the program provides sewing machines, materials, and mentorship at no cost. Miriam Mutale, the project officer, explains its deeper impact: “We’re restoring dignity. These women no longer have to beg for money—they’re gaining the power to support their families on their own terms.”

For Concilia Mukuli, a Mkhosana resident, the program is a dream realized: “I’ve always stitched by hand, but now I design skirts from scratch. This isn’t just training—it’s hope.”

Anatoria Chapwanya, a former tomato vendor, skipped church to enroll after hearing about the program. “I had a sewing machine but no skills. Now, I can cut my own designs. Soon, I’ll stitch my children’s uniforms and grow my business,” she says.

Dube plans to expand the program after the first cohort graduates, proving that real change starts with opportunity. “When a woman earns her own money,” he says, “she doesn’t just change her life—she changes her entire future.”