I grew up learning to be resourceful. My mother was a fan of crafting and I inherited that gene. I learnt how to sew when I was young and have continued sewing for most of my life. I’ve found it to be an invaluable skill at times. It’s enjoyable to effortlessly re-attach that friend’s button to her blouse, or fix that hole in your brother’s sweater, or repair your own clothing.
In a mainstream society where clothes with holes are regarded as useless, it’s hard to imagine people actually taking the time to mend their clothes. However, during my recent visit to the Goducate Children’s Home in Cambodia, things were a bit different. I had picked up a few sewing kits during my travels and knew that there were enough needles to teach any who were interested.
There I was, announcing to the children that we’d have a sewing class, and the boys and girls were already running to their dorms to get something to practise on—a treasure of theirs that had a hole and desperately needed fixing. Some of the items that the children brought seemed childish for their ages but we realized that these were probably a source of comfort for them. I was surprised by the boys’ response to this activity—they were more than eager to fix their “broken clothes” as they called them. Even the oldest boy brought a pile of pants that needed mending.
Once I had issued needles and thread, showed them how to tie the knot and make some starter stitches, they were off and did an excellent job. Many had seen their mothers mending clothes, but just needed reminders of how to do it. One 14-year-old boy fixed at least two pairs of pants. Job, a boy with a sweet personality fixed his sport coat that he wears nearly 24/7. There was joy on the children’s faces to see that they had accomplished something simple but something so special. Their precious possessions that had seemed broken, useless, even ruined, were now repaired and ready to be used again. This simple lesson not only brought joy to the children, but also a new skill that they can use whenever the need arises.