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Immigrant women, single mothers without an income often stand alone. Dexterous Hands a training centre in industrial sewing has the important mission of helping these women to come out of their isolation. Together, they learn a trade, they share with each other and eventually find a job where they can earn a living with dignity.
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A dynamic woman who believes in the impossible launches a project and in 1994 establishes the modest foundation of Dexterous Hands. At the age of 78, Sr. Denise Arsenault, c.s.c., is preoccupied with the dire situation of the newly arrived immigrants in Quebec.She decides to act and concretely help them out of their poverty and solitude. These women from other countries are here, they have found a home with us and they are at home because all the earth belongs to everyone. I want to change the plight of these women, I want to improve their way of life and help them out of their miserable state. A gift from heaven An experienced seamstress, Sr. Yolande Laroche, m.i.c., shares the same vision as the foundress of the training centre. From the very beginning, she offers her services, teaching industrial sewing to the women. Sr. Denise welcomes her to the confined area located in the basement of a house in Cote-des-Neiges, a modest Montreal district. She considers Sr. Yolande as a gift from heaven and a sign that the centre Dexterous Hands is willed by God. September 26, 1994 courses begin in French and English. Two groups of four or five women take part. They come from Bangladesh, Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, Liberia, Morocco and Tunisia. With time, more women join them; some who are more skilful in sewing, quickly acquire enough experience to go find work on the labour market. During their training, the women learn to make all kinds of garments, touch-ups etc.; with time, the production brings in a bit of money which they share with joy among themselves. Besides the sewing sessions, these women have the advantage of receiving courses in human growth development. They bloom in light of what they acquire, they become skilful, more experienced and eagerly await the day when they will sign a work contract in due form. |
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Wind in the sails The unexpected crops up. Sr. Yolande must leave Dexterous Hands; her help is needed in Zambia, Africa, as teacher in a sewing centre. After some time there, her health obliges her to come back to Quebec. After her convalescence, she returns to Dexterous Hands, a mission she holds dear to her heart. The foundress, Sr. Denise is no longer there; she passed away February 1, 2004. Mrs. Nahid Aboumansour is the lady who holds the torch and courageously continues the work that is growing. The centre has wind in its sails! |
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Sr. Yolande rejoices in seeing the progress that has been made during her absence. While I was away, the centre had the opportunity of finding another location in the Cote des Neiges area where more space and better ventilation were provided. The work place is expanding, the training is of six months and the workers receive a modest salary. Once the women master their trade we help them find work. As for me, I welcome them when they arrive at the centre; I initiate them to the industrial sewing machines, overcasting and conventional. They first practice on paper, then on cloth. To evaluate their dexterity we use a lab book in which there are various exercises. When ready, the women work on the production: we receive orders from many companies, the army, etc. Thus, they can put into practice what they have learnt. It’s great to see their joy when they succeed. The centre functions on a rotating basis: after their six months of training, most of them find a job that is more professional and better paid; new recruits replace them immediately. |
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And today? What joy to see these women bloom, thanks to their success and the promising future that is before them. They are most grateful. Nowadays, the ladies come from more than sixty countries; forty volunteers give a helping hand at the centre to ensure the quality and continuity of this marvellous project. Dexterous Hands now offers a variety of activities to its students: kiosks for the sale of their products, presence in schools, radio interviews; they also have cultural outings in Montreal and Quebec, visiting museums, and art galleries. These are ways to initiate the women to their new environment, their new society. |
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The centre provides the workers with what they need to be proud of their work, to be serene and assured of a better future. Somewhat like a connecting thread, our ultimate goal is to find them a job where they will be able to find their place in society, and in a spirit of openness participate in the progress of the region where they settle while respecting the local culture. Already ten years Since the very beginning of its foundation, Dexterous Hands has focused on justice issues in the labour market, fighting against isolation, discrimination, illegal exploitation and violence against women. The centre’s sale counter is a project where goods are sold at fair prices and where the quality of work, produced by the students, is exhibited. They experience a profound feeling of pride when they see their creation with a price tag and then bought. The sale counter has increased by 300%. This is a means of publicity for the centre and an encouragement for the participants; it is also a way for Dexterous Hands to take a larger place in the field of commerce endorsing honesty, integrity and accountability. Apart from being equitable, all the goods produced at the centre are of superior quality. The outcome? The clients are proud of their purchase, and happy to encourage seamstresses who desire to excel in their creations. Dexterous Hands opens us to a more just, more fraternal world; it’s an invitation to take part… The counter and coffee shop are there to welcome you and offer you a ‘good break’ in a friendly atmosphere. Cordial welcome!
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