By David Schweidenback
Photos: Jim Lincoln

In 2010 P4P made a shipment of 20 sewing machines to the Barrouallie Secondary School in St. Vincent. On a January 2018 trip on the Island Windjammers sailing ship Diamant, I realized we would be spending one night in St. Vincent. Crew member Brown was from St. Vincent and was able to get in touch with the principal of the school and arrange for me to visit.

After we moored at Young Island, shipmate Jim Lincoln and I took a taxi to Barrouallie. It was only 12 miles as the crow flies but it was 17 miles to drive down into and up out of Kingston and up and over and around steep ridges of mountains with almost no flatland anywhere. The road was barely wide enough for two cars: there was a cliff on one side and a wall of rock on the other. No place you would ever want to ride a bicycle.

We arrived at the school and were greeted by the new principal, Mr. Kenneth Holder, and the math teacher Mr. Raffique Durham. They greeted Jim and me very warmly but after I introduced myself they started explaining the real needs they had for the school. They were especially in need of math books, rulers and other measuring instruments, and graph paper. Unfortunately, these are things that Pedals for Progress does not provide.

I asked if they remembered Peace Corps volunteer Liz Deppe, who worked with P4P to get the original shipment of sewing machines. But both the principal and the math teacher were relatively new to the school. The principal called in Mrs. Hildred Anderson, who is the head secretary of the school and has been there since forever. I have always been convinced that secretaries should rule the world, or maybe they already do!

Mrs. Anderson did indeed remember the Peace Corps volunteer and knew exactly where the sewing machines were: sitting in a storage closet. She brought me down to show me the machines, which were sitting there in amazingly good shape, most of them operational. She said she is the only person who ever uses them—sometimes she comes in on weekends to do her sewing.

On leaving, I suggested to principal Holder that, if he asked, he could probably get a new Peace Corps volunteer to teach sewing and fashion design. I’m afraid the meeting did not go well for him because he did not get the funding he was hoping for.

The sewing machines were shipped to help the people of this small, hard-working but poor community. I have since written to the principal with a suggestion that I think is a win for everyone. My suggestion is that the school sell the sewing machines to interested people in the community, and then use the income from those sales to buy the supplies the math department needs. The community would have more people earning a little more income because of the sewing machines. And the school would have the funding it desperately needs. This is Plan B. Plan A was to have the school teach young adults to sew, but the new principal is not now interested in this sort of vocational education. Plan B will work, though, and it’s a lot better to get the machines into the community and fund the school rather than let 20 good sewing machines sit in a storage closet forever.

A Peace Corps Volunteer Brings more than Good Will to an Island School
by Patricia Hamill
Winter 2011 InGear

As you may have read on our web site, we received a wonderful letter from Peace Corps volunteer Liz Deppe thanking us for making it possible for the school where she teaches to acquire 20 sewing machines. Located on the island of St. Vincent, the Barrouallie Secondary School (BSS) is the fortunate institution to welcome Liz and, hence, receive the machines. Originally from Ames, Iowa, Liz has only been in St. Vincent for 8 months as an assistant to the teachers in the art and reading courses; however, in that short time, she has made an enormous difference. Having known about P4P from our work in Iowa, she decided to contact us about donations of sewing machines to incorporate into the curriculum.

What can they do for employment without this skill? While banana production has dominated the economy, the government has been seeking ways of diversifying so that Vincentians do not continue to be vulnerable to price fluctuations and crop diseases. Tourism is an industry that has grown widely, but not everyone is able to profit from this type of expansion. This is where the importance of a solid education backed up by practical vocational skills comes into our story. According to Liz, “That first project and many more projects the students at BSS will work on are teaching them more than just how to sew. They are learning patience, creativity, problem-solving skills and a sense of accomplishment.”

While the machines are not used for production but strictly for classroom learning, there is hope that more machines can be acquired so that families may be able to purchase them and begin their own businesses. At the very least, the students have a marketable skill to offer alongside the knowledge they gain from their studies. Liz has witnessed firsthand the lasting effect that tangible results from focused effort provide: “What I believe is the most rewarding part of our newly created sewing program is a sense of accomplishment. At a school with little resources and many struggling students, it is amazing to watch a student who has never felt proud show you what they have accomplished. Their face beams as they hold up the finished product, something they can use and show off.”

It is part of our mission to do the utmost to send our shipments as economically as possible while striving to get the sewing machines and bikes out to those in need as quickly as possible. P4P was able to ensure that the sewing machines could make it to the school and with as little financial burden as possible by sending them via sea rather than air. The cost was demonstrably lower at $10 apiece. If all goes well, we may be able to continue this relationship not only with the school but also expand to other institutions on the island. It is Peace Corps Volunteers like Liz and people like our partners and contributors who think progressively, initiate programs, and give support that make our efforts so successful.

By Patricia Hamill

As you may have read on our web site, we received a wonderful letter from Peace Corps volunteer Liz Deppe thanking us for making it possible for the school where she teaches to acquire 20 sewing machines. Located on the island of St. Vincent, the Barrouallie Secondary School (BSS) is the fortunate institution to welcome Liz and, hence, receive the machines. Originally from Ames Iowa, Liz has only been in St. Vincent for 8 months as an assistant to the teachers in the art and reading courses; however, in that short time, she has made an enormous difference. Having known about P4P from our work in Iowa, she decided to contact us about donations of sewing machines to incorporate into the curriculum. What can they do for employment without this skill? While banana production has dominated the economy, the government has been seeking ways of diversifying so that Vincentians do not continue to be vulnerable to price fluctuations and crop diseases. Tourism is an industry that has grown widely, but not everyone is able to profit from this type of expansion. This is where the importance of a solid education backed up by practical vocational skills comes into our story. According to Liz, “[t]hat first project and many more projects the students at BSS will work on are teaching them more than just how to sew. They are learning patience, creativity, problem-solving skills and a sense of accomplishment.” While the machines are not used for production but strictly classroom learning, there is hope that more machines can be acquired so that families may be able to purchase them and begin their own businesses. At the very least, the students have a marketable skill to offer alongside the knowledge they gain from their studies.

Liz has witnessed firsthand the lasting effect that tangible results from focused effort provide: “What I believe is the most rewarding part of our newly created sewing program is a sense of accomplishment. At a school with little resources and many struggling students, it is amazing to watch a student, who has never felt proud, show you what they have accomplished. Their face beams as they hold up the finished product, something they can use and show off.” It is part of our mission to do the utmost to send our shipments as economically as possible while striving to get the sewing machines and bikes out to those in need as quickly as possible. P4P was able to ensure that the sewing machines could make it to the school and with as little financial burden as possible by sending them via sea rather than air. The cost was demonstrably lower at $10 per piece. If all goes well, we may be able to continue this relationship not only with the school but also expand to other institutions on the island. It is Peace Corps Volunteers like Liz and people like our partners and contributors who think progressively, initiate programs, and give support that make our efforts so successful.

by Liz Deppe

The gracious donation of 20 sewing machines from P4P to the Barrouallie Secondary School in St. Vincent has opened many doors for many students. We have been able to integrate sewing into the school art curriculum, which allows students to learn a new skill which they can carry through their entire lives. Although the program has just started, it is obvious that many students will use and grow their sewing skills as time goes on, it may even (hopefully!) open job opportunities for some.

We have also been able to use the sewing machines in extra curricular settings. The younger students have enjoyed making projects during 4H. They not only learned how to sew, but created various projects out of fused plastic bags, learning the value of recycling. This was the first project we did using the sewing machines with the younger students and it was a great success. The machines were also used at a summer camp, where the campers created bags out of old flour sacks once again learning sewing skills and the values of recycling.

I cannot begin to thank David and P4P for the kind generosity. The students’ excitement and eagerness has guided our program to a wonderful start. I cannot wait to see how it grows! Thank you David & Pedals for Progress!

Liz Deppe
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
2011-2013

My name is Elizabeth Deppe. I am an American, but am currently serving as a volunteer in St. Vincent for two years. I am volunteering at Barrouallie Secondary School. The school has students ranging from age 12 to 18 and serves over 500 students. Universal Education is fairly new to St. Vincent, so many students that may have not otherwise been accepted to a secondary school are now able to attend. Many students are the first in their family to attend a secondary school.

As a volunteer with the school, I am helping in the areas of literacy and art education. I feel extremely blessed to be working with the students, the principal and the faculty. They are incredibly hard working and as their motto states, Striving Ever Higher. A major problem facing students in St. Vincent is a lack of resources. Many students are dedicated and hard working, but cannot learn certain trades and skills simply because there is no access. For example, students must purchase their own supplies for art classes because there is not enough money to fund art supplies. As an art education volunteer, this can become extremely heart breaking and frustrating when only a small fraction of the class is able to purchase the recommended supplies for a certain project.

The Principal, current art teacher and I are working on creating an art program that teaches the students skills they can use, possibly to make some sort of income, in the future. We would love to introduce machine sewing to the students as it would be a great way for them to learn creative expression and a wonderful skill for them to have later in life. There is a lack of jobs in St. Vincent, and sewing would allow students to create their own small businesses. Students could create souvenir items that they could market to tourists. Students could also learn to create everyday items and clothing that they could sell to other Vincentians.

Sewing would also serve as a creative outlet for the students. Many students are faced with difficult family situations and learning an alternative way to share their feelings would be a great resource for them. Learning creativity through sewing will also teach the students problem solving skills and to look at situations in a new way.

A donation of sewing machines would be a great asset to the students and the community of Barrouallie. The students will not only have fun, they will also learn a new skill and stretch their creativity and imaginations. If you believe this project may be something that Pedals for Progress is interested in working with I would love to further discuss the school and the situation with you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Liz Deppe
U.S. Peace Corps (St. Vincent)