A Familiar Face in Kinshasa
Elise dropped by the One Thread program - 2 years after I first met her here.
Two years ago, I visited the Espoir Training Centre in Kinshasa to photograph the incredible work of the One Thread Project. That trip was packed with many memorable moments, but one stands out more than any other.
When I walk into a place, my photographer brain kicks in immediately. I’m scanning for light, shapes, interesting things - and, most importantly, faces. I remember the hum of sewing machines and the way the light seemed to dance off all the colourful fabric. The girls were focused, heads bent, hands steady, but there was this buzz of quiet energy. It felt like a room full of possibility.
In the back corner of the sewing room, my eyes turned to a girl with the kind of smile that lights up a space. The beautiful soft light from the window she was sitting next to filtered through the window and caught her perfectly - her face, her work station, her hands at work.
Elise sitting at her work station in the Espoir training centre.
Her name was Elise. The photos I took of her became some of my favourites and One Thread has used them time and again to share their work and raise vital funds to keep the centre operating. The sewing program at Espoir is special. Over the course of a year, girls like Elise learn how to sew, run a business, and even study new languages. By the end, they’re ready to go out on their own. When I left, Elise was close to graduation, and looking back on her photos, I often wondered what path her life had taken.
This week, I returned to Kinshasa and couldn’t help but ask Alice, the sewing instructor, if she’d heard from Elise. Alice smiled and said they still kept in touch. The next morning who should come walking into the Espoir centre? Elise!
Elise Now
With different hair, and not expecting to see her on this trip, I didn’t recognise Elise at first. But then she smiled! Her smile was the same. Big, bold and beautiful!
We talked about her life and what she has been doing since graduating the One Thread program. She’s been sewing at home and building her skills. Her dream, she told me, is to open a shop on a busy road where people can see her work and stop by. Right now, she’s working from her home in a quiet neighbourhood, which makes finding customers tough.
She laughed as she talked about her early days at the centre. “I didn’t even know how to thread a machine when I started,” she said. “Now, I can sew dresses, skirts, and shirts.” Her pride was clear, and honestly, it made me proud just listening to her.
She also shared how much the program meant to her. “Whenever I talk about Espoir, I tell people to come here. They teach you, help you, and even give you a sewing machine when you graduate. That’s so important.”
Helping Dreams Come True
Elise is now applying for a seed loan through the One Thread program. It’s a small loan that helps graduates take the next step toward building their businesses. To qualify, they create a business plan, present it to the staff, and, if approved, use the loan to launch their ideas.
Earlier today, I met two women who’ve used the loans to change their lives. Ruth, for example, has setup a small shop right in her yard. She told us she gets about ten customers a week and said she’s so proud of how her business is growing, little by little.
Blanche took a different approach. She teamed up with two friends, and together they rented a shop on a busy road. Even with three of them working, they get more work than they are able to keep up with - a good problem to have. Their store is thriving, and their partnership is helping them build a solid reputation in the community.
Hearing their stories made me think of Elise. She has the same determination and a clear vision of what she wants: a shop on a main road where people can see her clothes and know her name. “Sewing from home is hard because people don’t know I’m there,” she says. “A shop would mean everything. More people would see my work, and I’d get more customers.”
Why This Matters
Talking to Elise reminded me why this work matters so much. One Thread isn’t just teaching skills - it’s empowering women like Elise to take control of their futures. She’s so close to making her dream a reality. She has the talent and with a seed loan, she could finally take that next step.
One Thread Project staff and students at their expanding Espoir training centre
If you’ve ever supported One Thread, I wish you could hear Elise’s words “Thank you so much to everyone who helps Espoir. I pray that God blesses you.” And she meant every word.
I hope the next time I’m in Kinshasa, I’ll be stopping by Elise’s shop. I imagine it on a busy street, buzzing with customers, filled with colour, light, and every person who enters is welcomed by the warmth of her beautiful smile.
