We celebrate the graduation day of the Husky Energy Tailoring Skills Program in Henan County on July 14, 2025! After three months of sewing training, the women successfully completed their course and are ready to start their careers in dressmaking!
It was an early morning. Sunlight entered through the classroom’s windows, lighting up the faces of 56 women seated neatly by their sewing machines. They were dressed in clothes that they had sewn themselves—the perfect outfit for the occasion. They self-consciously smoothed the hems of their dresses as they exchanged shy smiles with one another. Just three months ago, these women had never even touched a sewing machine, but now, their creations will be limitless.
The room reflected the successes of these women. The walls were lined with the trainees’ projects, made from a variety of fabrics and colors: brightly colored children’s overalls, cushions embroidered with ethnic patterns, finely crafted aprons, and more. Li, one of the women, gently ran her hands along the seams of the piece of clothing she had ever made for her husband: a pair of trousers. “I used to haul bricks at construction sites, and my back hurt so much I couldn’t sleep,” said the single mother with a smile. “Now I can make a living with my skills, and I’m planning to open a sewing shop in the village.”
“I remember my first class — it took me ten minutes just to thread a needle,” recalled Ayi (30) with a smile. She talked about her little daughter, who loves wearing floral dresses, “Every time I saw her look longingly at other children’s clothes, my heart ached.” Since they were poor, they couldn’t easily buy new clothes even though she wanted to. This thought became her motivation to become one of the most dedicated students in her class. From not being able to sew a straight line to independently completing a full dress, her progress earned repeated praise from the instructors. On her graduation day, she wore an Atlas silk dress that she made herself and told us with her eyes tearing up a little, “Tonight, I’m going to surprise my daughter.”
The graduation ceremony not only consisted of certificate handings, but also featured a special fashion show! There was no professional runway, no dazzling lights, yet each woman walked forward with extraordinary confidence. Some were shy, others more outgoing, but all proudly displayed the garments they had made by hand, as cheering applause filled the room.
Lamo Zhuoma was asked to speak, which brought tears to the women’s eyes (and even ours, too.) “I used to think I couldn’t learn anything, but the teachers patiently guided me, and my classmates encouraged me.” She paused and held up a baby’s shirt. It looked a little crooked, but one could tell it was done with care. It was the first piece of clothing she ever made. “I’m going to frame this, so I’ll always remember where I started.”
When it was their instructors’ turn to speak, the room went silent in attentiveness. “You’ve proven through your actions that as long as you’re willing to learn, it’s never too late to start.”
The trainees each received their certificates, which brought tears to their eyes. The certificates were not merely documents, but a thin sheet of paper that carried months of their hard work towards the shared hope of bettering their lives. 10 of the 59 women plan to open home-based workshops, and over 30 others will seek employment in garment factories.
“We’re not only teaching technical skills, but also the ability to stand on their own feet,” said the project leader. Seeing the graduates’ radiant smiles in their group photo, it was clear that these stitches had sewn not just clothes, but the wounds that made them doubt themselves, that a brighter future is a real possibility. As Ayi put it, “With this skill, I’m no longer afraid of the future.”
This program is fully funded by Husky Energy
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