Category Archives: Togo

Sewing Partners, Togo

Robert Musil’s Sewing Machine: from New York to Sandra Anani in Togo

By Sandra Anani
Spring 2020 Newsletter

[The fall 2019 newsletter had the first part of the story of Robert Musil’s sewing machine, a 1912 Singer treadle machine that he used for several decades in his profession as a tailor. Robert’s family donated the machine to P4P/SP in 2019 and in October we shipped it to Togo. Here is the next part of the story, written by the woman who got Robert’s machine.]


My name is Sandra ANANI. I am a 37-year-old widow with two daughters. The older one is Joséphine, who is in her final year of high school. The second is Marceline, also a pupil in the high school. I lost my husband 11 years ago. I worked part-time as a housekeeper and as an assistant cook in a restaurant to support my family. In addition to this work, I also did laundry for people in need. I do everything that falls into my hand to earn money and take care of my daughters. I pay for food, tuition, and rent with enormous difficulties, despite the fact that I am a seamstress. I am a high-fashion designer and I sew clothes for men and women, but I could not afford to buy a sewing machine.

My husband had promised to open my workshop at the end of my apprenticeship, but unfortunately he died after a short illness just a year before the end of my training. My step-family put me and my two daughters out; since that time our life became really difficult.

Like many women my age in our community, I never had the chance to go to school. One day, I attended a talk organized by the DRVR Association at a literacy center in my village. That’s when I discovered that the DRVR Association runs a program that supplies sewing machines to the needy. I joined their program and now I have my very first sewing machine. With this machine I can open my workshop and practice my sewing trade, earn money and save money to support my family. My daughters’ future depends on their studies and now I have my machine which will allow me to work and pay their school fees.

Words fail me. The photo shows the joy that animates me and my daughters at this moment. We thank the DRVR association, Mr. David of Pedals for Progress, and especially the family of Mr. Robert, who donated this pedal sewing machine. As my family life has just changed and improved, I ask those responsible — DRVR and Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace — to do the same for other people like me.

Togo

Togo #2: Container Shipped, Container Received

Loading crew, Togo #2 container, October 2019

On 26 October 2019 we shipped Togo #2, our first full container to Togo: 463 bikes and 100 sewing machines. Togo #1 arrived in June 2019: 72 sewing machines. Thanks to a grant from the Clif Bar Family Foundation, Togo is now a bicycle as well as a sewing machine partner.

From: Simon Akouete
Date: January 9, 2020 at 6:15:12 PM EST
To: David Schweidenback <dschweidenback@gmail.com>

Hello David,

We finally received our container. The bikes and the sewing machines have already arrived in Vogan at our headquarters.

David, thank you. All of this is possible thanks to you and your dedication to the social cause. Our thanks also go to your partners who paid the shipping costs: the Clif Bar Family Foundation and the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church of Alexandria, Virginia. Here are some photos.

Togo #2 container unloading in Togo
Togo #2 container, poster delivered to Togo
Sewing Partners, Togo

Success Story from Togo

Fall 2019 Newsletter

Mrs. Afi Brigitte Ametowoyona

Mrs. Afi Brigitte Ametowoyona lives in Vogan village, Togo, and is the married mother of five children. Before she joined a DRVR sewing apprenticeship workshop she rented a sewing machine for U.S. $10 a month. But at the end of her apprenticeship she got a Sewing Peace machine at no charge as part of the program. She can now save money to feed her family and pay school fees for her children.

Collectors, Sewing Partners, Togo

Robert Musil’s Sewing Machine: from New York to Togo

By Dave Schweidenback
Fall 2019 Newsletter

Robert Musil

Robert Musil, 23 years old, left Krizanow, Moravia (now the Czech Republic), in October 1910. His sister Fanny Vogel had previously emigrated to the U.S. and she and her German husband sponsored Robert’s trip. He traveled north to Bremen in Germany and embarked for the U.S.

He arrived at Ellis Island November 17, 1910, looking for a new life and greater opportunity. Like most immigrants he was not looking for a handout but rather to become a creative part of his new country. He was ready to work. Robert was a tailor, made a living his whole life sewing. He is an American success story of how immigrants enrich America. In 1912, Robert married another Czech, Bozina Ourednik. They had two daughters, born in 1914 and 1917.

Bozina Ourednik

Robert was an entrepreneur who supported his family through hard work and great skill. He bought himself a new 1912 Singer manual sewing machine and went to work. In New Rochelle, New York, he worked out of the front parlor of his home where he had a large triple mirror so his clients could see themselves in the custom-made dresses and suits he made. He basically had only a half-dozen wealthy customers, for whom he made evening gowns, suits, and coats.

Robert passed away in 1960. His sewing machine stood idle, finally ending up in his granddaughter’s garage, a family heirloom but what to do with it? The 1912 Singer was waiting for a new life somewhere, ready to go back to work. All these years later his granddaughter, Betsy Richards, still had the sewing machine packed away in her garage. After learning of the mission of Sewing Peace, Betsy decided the best thing to do with it was to donate it so someone else could make a living with that high-quality machine made in the U.S.

Robert Musil’s 1912 Singer Treadle Machine

In comes Anne Fitzgerald, sewing machine collector extraordinaire. Betsey found Anne because the P4P/SP collection was announced in the local newspaper. On October 5th, 2019, Anne brought the sewing machine to the P4P/SP collection at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. The collection was sponsored by the Croton Lay Interfaith Council.

Robert Musil

Gary, our V.P. and collection coordinator, went to that collection and brought that sewing machine back to the warehouse. Then Dennis our tinkerer did some minor maintenance on the machine. It is now working beautifully!

Robert Musil’s sewing machine shipped to DRVR, our partner in Togo, West Africa, on October 26, 2019. Previously, DRVR had received only one shipment of sewing machines. But with the generous support of the Clif Bar Family Foundation, DRVR is now a bicycle program as well as a sewing program. We hope to be able to trail along to the final destination of Robert’s machine and bring you the conclusion of the story in our 2020 spring newsletter. [Here is that story.]