Sharing the joy of home sewing with children

Donating domestic sewing machines to a primary school and hosting a sewing machine class

Sewing machine class

In FY2009, Brother Industries donated 10 domestic sewing machines to Shijia Primary School in Dongcheng District, Beijing, through the China Sewing Machinery Association (CSMA). A donation ceremony was held at the school on May 11, at which the principal thanked Brother for giving children an opportunity to learn how to use sewing machines.

The ceremony was followed by a sewing machine class. Assisted by employees of Brother (China) Ltd.

Sewing machine donation ceremony

(BCN), 40 fourth graders crafted small articles such as drawstring bags.This seemed to be the first time for most of the children to use sewing machines, and they looked very happy to see their own works completed.

BCN will continually hold such sewing machine classes to give more people an opportunity to learn how to use sewing machines and share the joy of home sewing.

Support for skill acquisition by women in rural villages as a means of Local economic revitalization

Supporting a vocational training school students by donating industrial sewing machines and offering scholarships

Student learning industrial sewing machine skills

To help stimulate rural areas in China, Brother Sewing Machine Xian (BSMX) entered into a cooperative aid agreement with the Weinan Peihua Art School in 2008, with the cooperation of the Headquarters of an NGO named the Plan China.

The Weinan Peihua Art School is a full time secondary vocational training school and is designated as a women's skill training center by three women's support groups in China. Many graduates from the sewing course, one of the specialized courses in this school, got employed in Brother's suppliers which are the well-known sewing factories in China. BSMX donated eight industrial sewing machines to the school and provides scholarships for the students as well.

Passionate educators and students seen on factory tour

Students on factory tour

BSMX invited 43 teachers and students from the school to visit the factory. Both teachers and students eagerly asked questions such as "How many sewing machines are produced in a day?" "Where are products sold?" and "What kind of clothes are made on this sewing machine?" They were also given an opportunity to operate Brother's new sewing machines under the instruction of Brother employees. They passionately sewed patterns into their clothes and embroidered their names onto materials with great interest.

BSMX places importance on continuing and following up this kind of technical training, and will continuously promote this support to encourage women's participation to the society in China.

	From trade school students I am willing to work hard to become a skilled seamstress.
	Weinan Peihua Art School Ms. An Jie

I have learned many sewing techniques over the past year on the sewing machine donated by BSMX. Brother's sewing machine is easy to operate, safe and highly practical. It is a very good sewing machine. Moreover, it does not leak oil and emits little noise, so I can work comfortably. In the future, I want to find a job that suits me and apply what I have learned, work hard and become a skilled seamstress.

Providing students with opportunities to learn and grow

Financial aid for financially disadvantaged students

Since FY2003, Brother China (BCN) has been providing financial aid to financially disadvantaged students living near the office until they graduate from college, so that these students can have the chance to learn and grow. So far, 15 students have been supported in total, amongst which are some who have been accepted at prestigious universities such as Fudan University and the Shanghai Medical University.

Exchanges are held with students and BCN executives and employees on International Children's Day (June 1) and the Chinese New Year (end of January - early February). These student support activities will be continued in the future.