On January 10, 2025 at Lincoln South Rotary Club, we heard from Suzanne Campbell on The One Thread Project at the Women’s Education Center in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Suzanne shared history and photos about the One Thread Project in the Congo.
She assured us that it is not dangerous where they are working. She explained that their work is in western area of the Congo so they are away from the active conflict in the east. But, they are careful. They stay in modest locations and always have a driver and security officer with them.
She and her sister-in-law, Amy, have both adopted children from the Congo. It started with Amy who saw the lack of opportunity available to women. They realized that, in the United States we take our opportunities to belong to a family, grow and have a successful future for granted. In other countries, the opportunities for education are not there.
After partnering with Suzanne, friends and family started donating money toward the purchase of sewing machines for a local school.
She said that the reality is bleak. Most women are single moms, with little education. As they wake up each day they have no money. They take what they can to market and provide for their family as they can. It is hard to improve - get an education - when all they can think of is taking care of their family.
Suzanne stated that, at the time, they had no intention of turning this into a job. But, they eventually established The One Thread Project as an independent organization in the Congo and the United States. The One Thread Project seeks to change lives through job and business training. They now have a location for their own training center and this year they hope to open a second center.
Suzanne shared that they use a simple model for their center - 25 students per class. Since sewing involves a lot of math, it is important to understand the level of each student and adjust the classes as needed. At the center they provide:
- Sewing Education - this is a 12-month program that includes skills training and an internship; they graduate with a seamstress license and a sewing machine
- Business Training - participants learn practical skills in money management, ethics and leadership
- Language Literacy - with multiple languages in the Congo, it is important that the graduates can read, understand orders and talk comfortably with customers;
- Seed Loan - Donors can have one-to-one impact on a graduate; the Congo has great financial inequity and this provides access to the participants
Part of the Business Training is teaching women how to save and creating what they call a Savings Circle. The women put money "into the circle". During COVID, as the center was trying to determine how they would support the participants, they reminded them of the Savings Circle. Even if the women were not able to make and sell their products, they had their funds in the Savings Circle available to them. That reinforced the value of savings and planning for the future.
Suzanne shared some impact numbers
- 400+ Students since 2015
- 175 Women have graduated
- Over 35 businesses launched through the seed program
- 100 Students learning literacy in French and English
- 175 People walk through doors annually
- 8 Staff members working at an honorable wage
- Second center to open early 2025
SUZANNE CAMPBELL BIO:
Suzanne Campbell is the Director of Operations for The One Thread Project. She is passionate about creating pathways of opportunity and belonging to the most vulnerable. In her role she loves to plan strategically for the organization, collaborate with staff and various stakeholders, create innovative ways for others to join the project, and best of all, travel to Congo and spend time with the powerhouse in-country staff and amazing students. She has spent her entire post collegiate career in the nonprofit world including children's theater, international adoption, refugee resettlement, and being a mom to 3 beautiful daughters. The One Thread Project was not something she ever thought would be her "job" but feels so grateful for this work she gets to do alongside her family. Suzanne can be found around Lincoln cheering her kids on in their activities, enjoying wine on a patio, or advising the Chi Omegas on the campus of UNL.
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION:
I am so excited to share about The One Thread Project. In my presentation I will introduce you to the history and creation of our organization, our staff, and the women we serve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I will help you learn when a woman enters our red doors what they will receive over the 2 years they are in our programs. You will leave with an understanding of how opportunity is the gateway to creating avenues of hope for families to stay intact and empowerment to be given. You can learn more about us at our website, www.onethreadproject.org , join us at our annual Sip & Support event on October 8, or follow us on our social media @Onethreadproject