Amani Sewing Academy (ASA)

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Economic Empowerment / Workforce Development / Job Placement / Entrepreneurship

A holistic approach that includes skills training and support services such as job placement, entrepreneuship, financial literacy, counseling, and our unique ESL buddy project. This initiative is a powerful way to equip refugee women with marketable skills, enabling them to earn income.

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Genet & Doris
Sponsor a Student

What We Aim To Solve

Our organization is meeting a unique need of providing culturally sensitive empowerment programs that lead to self-sufficiency for refugee families in the City of Clarkston, DeKalb County, parts of Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta.

There's a high rate of unemployment among refugee women due to factors such as language barriers, access to transportation and skills. AWC provides the training to meet this need. We are helping bridge the gap between the number of workers skilled in sewing and the abundant jobs available in this field.

The Amani Women Center Sewing Program is making a meaningful difference for refugee women in Clarkston and nearby communities by providing them with valuable skills and economic opportunities. How to help Amani Women Center? 1. Volunteer 2. Make a donation 3. Sponsor a student. 4. Shop the beautiful and unique items made by our women online or visit the showroom in Clarkston. 

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Clarkston City Mayor Beverly Burks - Guest Speaker @ ASA 2023 graduation
Clarkston City Mayor Beverly Burks - Guest Speaker @ ASA 2023 graduation
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Program Prepares Individuals To:

  • Learn how to sew for themselves, their children and their families.
  • Start their own home business.
  • Work at a sewing factory.
  • Employment as an assistant teacher. 
  • Earn income with AWC manufacturing team.
  • Get paid sewing for AWC social enterprise - Johari Africa©
  • And much much more!

Sandy Teepen of Sandies Label - Volunteers at ASA.
Sandy Teepen of Sandies Label - Volunteers at ASA.

Classes & Training Milestones:

  • Upto 3-months of beginner's fundamentals.
  • Upto 6-months of intermediary training.
  • Upto 12-months plus of advanced applications.

ASA provides a safe space with sewing machines, industrial machines, a fabric room, instructors, counselors, case workers, and AWC Community Ambassadors. Students get a sewing kit, notions, fabrics, and all accessories etc.

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This is a life-skills program that utilizes a holistic approach with wrap-around services for refugee survivors focusing on individual development, economic empowerment and  wellbeing. The program provides over 650 hours of training per year, teaching, and preparing students (About 50 women per year) to be workforce ready. They graduate with certification and are gifted with a new sewing machine. They able to join the workforce, become Certified sewing machine operators earning livable wages, Community. ASA is a pathway to economic empowerment and self-reliance for a limited English proficiency population.