Sainte Luce is made up of cluster of three villages with a total population of approximately 2,000 people. Due to its isolated location our trek from our base camp in Matalakay would end up taking three hours by foot.

Heavy, dark clouds seemed to follow on our heels as we walked, threatening rain - as we drew nearer to the village, the deep thumping of a drum seemed to coax the thunder. The sounds continued to swell and reached a point were you could not separate the music from nature’s brewing storm, then lightening lite up the sky. This was our introduction to Sainte Luce.

The following morning proved to be equally breath taking and awe filled as we met with Collective Founder Sarah Brown to discuss the impact the embroidery collective has had on a number of the women in this village.

To supply some context, opportunities for women here are limited.  Cultural expectations mean women are often limited to domestic responsibilities, reed weaving and portering. Traditional livelihoods are therefore male-dominated, with fishing and farming cassava being the main sources of income. But with fishing opportunities becoming less reliable and increasingly dangerous, there is an obvious need to diversify earning opportunities, as well as provide employment for women.

Established in June 2012 as a sustainable livelihoods project by SEED Madagascar. Stitch Sainte Luce has fostered community development by providing embroidery lessons to women as well as finacial, sales and marketing training to its embrioders. With an emphasis on sustainability, the new skills obtained by these women have helped alleviate the chronic poverty faced by their families.

In 2015 a dedicated workshp was built. Sarah Brown noted during our visit that:

This is actually the only place in the village where a load of women can get together without husbands. So it becomes a sort of place where women know that they can come for support. That’s important because, particularly in the new class, we have got a lot of very vulnerable women. Women who are widowed, women with disabilities and struggling single mothers.

By 2017 the cooperative had expanded to nearly 100 members.

In September of 2019 something incredible took place, Stitch Sainte Luce Cooperative became independent! The collective no longer required aid based funding to continue to thrive! This proves that with the right incentives, communities are able to sustain their own businesses and livelihoods, thus escaping the poverty cycle.

Expanding opportunities to women to learn and apply these skills allows women

To access greater economic independence. They are also more likely to decide on the allocation of assets which has an important implication on family welfare. And this in turn improves social security and stability. Stability stimulates economic growth and grants women greater political autonomy.

- Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize-Winning Economist and Philosopher

So why embroidery?

• It does not rely on declining natural resources

• It is physically much less demanding than alternatives, so elderly, disabled and pregnant women can all participate

• Work can be done around domestic responsibilities like cooking and childcare, it is easy to transport and can be picked up and put down as necessary

• It’s creative and interesting work!

• Products appeal to tourists as they are beautiful, colourful, affordable and easy to transport home

If you are interested in supporting this organisation head to their online store!