Caroline Salisbury is back in Vanuatu with more sewing machines for impoverished communities and her newly-published book.
Sista Somap Togeta – Women Sewing Together – describes her decade with Kiwanis Threads Across the Pacific which began when she arrived in Vanuatu on a cruise ship in 2015 with 741 quilts for families who had lost most of their possessions in Cyclone Pam.
She followed it up with second-hand sewing machines so local women could learn to sew their own clothes, and when the older machines proved problematic she began fundraising for new machines and secured a good deal for the Little Bernette model.
Now 75, this is her fifteenth trip to Vanuatu with sewing machines and usually a few volunteers to help run workshops.
“When your legs get tired, all you can do is run with your heart,” she says. “It’s a wonderful experience because the women are all so warm and appreciative. You make good friends.”
She wrote the book partly to record her memories of the project over the years and also to help fundraise for more sewing machines.
On this trip, Vanuatu’s prime minister has asked her to set up a sewing group at his church after meeting with him in May.
“When I got there in May, I was told the prime minister wanted to see me, which was right outside my comfort zone. Several of us went to meet him and he was keen on us continuing to establish groups and hoped we could get to other islands.
“He also asked if we could set up a group at his church. So, we’re delivering 10 sewing machines, an overlocker and masses of material to the prime minister’s church.”
To date, she has taken about 200 sewing machines to Vanuatu and established eight sewing groups, as well as getting them into places such as schools and a women’s correction facility.
Many of the women Caroline and her volunteers have taught to sew are now creating more sewing groups and she hopes that is one way to assist communities in other Vanuatu islands.
Next year she hopes to get to the western island of Espiritu Santo herself to help set up a community sewing group.
Sewing machines and workshops would benefit other Pacific Islands where communities live in poverty and she says people ask her why she hasn’t gone to others.
“I say I’ll show you how to do it if you like.”
To fundraise for the sewing machines, Caroline travels around New Zealand to talk with different groups.
Anyone wanting to purchase a copy of her book for $25 or invite her to give a talk about her work in Vanuatu, can email her at carolineann2017@gmail.com.
