Get to know us and
our association

The story

In 2009, Julia decided to make Tanzania the center of her life and thus make not only her dream of Africa come true, but also that of Mama Maria Luisa. Here she noticed again and again: Women have far fewer opportunities than men and are often victims of them. This was also the case for Anna Malogo, who took Julia in and organized a sewing course for her. As a seamstress, Anna now earned money herself and was able to feed herself and her children.

This example showed Julia how it can work, namely by helping people to help themselves. Anna became a role model. Julia founded a sewing school and Anna went from student to teacher. Pamoja - “We are a community” became the motto of the sewing school and the Pa1 association in South Tyrol was founded. The initiator Julia Lantschner from Steinegg has personally managed the project in Tanzania since 2015.

The concept

Tanzania is a breathtakingly beautiful but very poor country in East Africa. For many women, poverty and oppression is unfortunately a daily struggle.

Tanzania has an education system that consists of primary education (7 years), secondary education (4 years), and higher education. The government has also introduced programs to improve access to education, but challenges such as limited resources and regional disparities remain. As a result, many children still do not go to school or do not complete their education.

With our sewing school, we aim to help women build a new livelihood by teaching them self-reliance and self-confidence to break out of this spiral of despair.

In our six-month course phases, we aim to empower 20 to 30 young women aged between 15 and 25 to create a solid foundation for a self-determined life.

Our programs

At Pa1 we focus mainly on the sewing project, but we also offer additional courses to promote the women's independence. These include handicraft courses where they can learn how to make pottery and dye fabrics, as well as English courses, sex education and training and education to promote a self-confident and healthy approach to their own bodies.

The students also grow their own vegetables and fruit without the use of pesticides and animal husbandry offers them a further opportunity to earn their own income after completing the course. In our new center, we have our own computer room where courses are offered to learn various programs.

Another important topic is environmental protection. Once a month, we carry out beach clean-ups and collect garbage. Unfortunately, a lot of waste is still carelessly thrown away and we want to raise awareness of this problem and educate women about it.

Batik

Tanzania has a rich tradition of fabric dyeing, which is often practiced by craftsmen and artists. Traditional dyeing techniques such as batik and dyeing with natural plant dyes are widespread. These craft skills are often passed down from generation to generation and are an important part of the country's cultural identity. We want to teach and pass these on to the girls.

Horticulture

Organic gardening is particularly important to us, as unfortunately chemical pesticides are often used in Tanzania to combat pests. We strive to grow and consume our own healthy vegetables. We also want to show the women in the area how they can grow a garden without the use of pesticides.

Pottery

Marlis visits us regularly to practise the art of pottery with the women. Together they shape and fire pots, plates, bowls and containers. Every year it is a joy for the girls to see what treasures can be created from earth.

Hairdressing training

The students also receive comprehensive training in hair braiding, hair care and styling. As the profession of hairdresser is in high demand, this opens up further opportunities for them on the job market.

Living together

For us, community is the focus. Cooking, living and laughing together at the center are particularly important to us. We take time to discuss and solve problems together. This creates a supportive family atmosphere in which we are there for each other.

Education

Only a few women can afford the costly secondary school. In addition to sewing lessons, we also give them English and sex education lessons.

Our products

Fabrics, bags, sandals and many other products are made during the courses. From dyeing the fabrics, choosing the design, cutting out the patterns to sewing the final products and printing the patterns and logo. We go through all the work phases together, step by step.

The trained seamstresses also receive orders for various products, which are then offered for sale at various markets in South Tyrol and at the Caroma coffee roastery in Fiè.