Design26 Foundation Crowdfunds for Community Sewing Skills Training Center
Suraya Williams, a gifted seamstress from Cape Town, South Africa, transformed her mourning after her mother's death into an opportunity to inspire and empower young women in her community. In 2018, she founded the Design26 Foundation to provide skills, jobs, and a more positive outlook on life for young women in Mitchell’s Plain, an area with a high youth unemployment rate of 43.4% in South Africa.
Suraya Williams, a gifted seamstress from Cape Town, South Africa, transformed her mourning after her mother’s death into an opportunity to inspire and empower young women in her community. In 2018, she founded the Design26 Foundation to provide skills, jobs, and a more positive outlook on life for young women in Mitchell’s Plain, an area with a high youth unemployment rate of 43.4% in South Africa.
Crowdfunding Campaign to Support Young Women
Suraya and her passionate team at the Design26 Foundation recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Backabuddy to raise funds for the construction of a community sewing skills training center in Harmony Village, Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town. The goal of this initiative is to equip young women in the community with the abilities to become financially self-sufficient and break the cycle of poverty, drug addiction, and alcoholism that many struggle with due to a lack of employment opportunities.
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Hope Community Skills Centre and Manufacturing Plant
The ambitious plan requires the collection of R20 million to establish the “Hope Community Skills Centre and Manufacturing Plant” in Mitchell’s Plain. The funds raised will cover the purchase of land from the City of Cape Town and the construction of a building to house the center and manufacturing plant. The new facility will have classrooms, training facilities, and sewing and design equipment, providing a space for young women to gain valuable skills and job prospects.
Donating to the Campaign
To generate public support for their cause, Suraya and the Design26 Foundation invite individuals to contribute to their crowdfunding campaign by donating a brick for R100 or committing to a monthly donation via the BackaBuddy platform. Donors who do not mind public recognition can have their names featured on a donor board at the new center.
Making a Difference Together
Suraya Williams is committed to her mission and says passionately, “We believe that by providing training and employment opportunities, we can give young women the tools they need to succeed. Let’s make a difference together.” To support this campaign, donors can visit the BackaBuddy website or donate via Snapscan.
Empowering Young Women for a Better Future
Through the Design26 Foundation and its initiatives, Suraya Williams and her team are helping to make a significant impact on the lives of the youth in their community. By giving young women the tools they need to succeed, they hope to provide them with a brighter future brimming with opportunities and success.
Lerato Mokena is a Cape Town-based journalist who covers the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene with a focus on emerging voices from Khayelitsha to the Bo-Kaap. Born and raised at the foot of Table Mountain, she brings an insider’s eye to how creativity shapes—and is shaped by—South Africa’s complex social landscape. When she’s not chasing stories, Lerato can be found surfing Muizenberg’s gentle waves or debating politics over rooibos in her grandmother’s Gugulethu kitchen.
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