The phrase “High Fashion and High Hopes” was the order of the day last Saturday as the latest group of graduates from the Evangeline Ministries life skills programme celebrated graduation with a fashion show. The programme, which is part funded by Masicorp, has run successfully for over five years and can boast more than 100 graduates. Sixteen more graduates from within the Masiphumelele community can now be added to that number.

As the ceremony started the new graduates danced their way into the graduation hall – kindly provided by our friends at Living Hope. Each graduate was wearing a selection of the clothing they had made during the previous six months, and they took it in turns to show off their outfits. There was a real mixtures of styles on show – from professional business suits to colourful dresses, and for the first time two male students presenting shirts (and a colourful hat).

The life skills programme has three components to it – computer training, English literacy and sewing skills. Each graduate received a certificate of competency in all three areas as well as a brand new sewing machine, from which they can continue to work from home and hopefully earn a future income.

For the programme manager, Wendy Ryan, it was a successful end to another six-month cycle, but only a brief respite in her work. With over 60 applications received already it will be straight back to work selecting the next group of students for the second half of 2015. We wish her well and express our congratulation to each of the new graduates.