BEACON OF HOPE

Mitchells Plain machinist is ‘sewing’ back into community with her skills

- BY KIM SWARTZ

A FORMER machinist from Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain is using her talents to weave some hope into her community.

Maria Brander, 62, founder of the Sewing Academy Training School in Beacon Valley, tells the Daily Voice that she is taking mense off the streets, teaching them how to sew and providing them with opportunities to generate an income.

She said it doesn't matter your age, whether you're wearing rags or you're homeless, she has trained over 690 people from the surrounding gang-ridden areas and is making a difference.

Brander said: "I don't know what happened, but one day God just put it on my mind to help these people on the street.

"I asked Him to show me, and He said 'teach my people, get them off the street' and it was successful.