Janet Asibi is a 25-year-old Ghanaian professional teacher at Aboabo Presby Primary School at Akim Oda in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
She is passionate about seeing every child in school, hence does not want lack of school uniform to be a hindrance.
Affectionately known as “Ama Val the Sewing Teacher”, she uses her own money and seeks the assistance of friends and family to knit new school uniforms for children in need.
Janet learned how to use the sewing machine at a young age, and has used her skills to mend and make free uniforms for pupils since 2019.
“Seeing these young people, whom we refer to as potential leaders walk to school in ripped clothes compelled me to use my sewing skills,” she told Melvin Da Enigma on Luv FM’s DriveTime Show.
Janet has stitched uniforms for pupils in several local schools and wants to take her effort nationwide.
In some days, she could stitch over 50 uniforms for a school.
“I will continue with this initiative until my last breath. It all started when I was posted to Nsoatre in the Bono Region for my teaching practice. When I reached the school, I realized that some students come to school with torn uniforms and others too with no uniforms at all.
“And it was having an effect on their education, so I took it upon myself to get a sewing machine and start to stitch out the worn out uniforms. So those who were coming to school with torn uniforms, I started stitching and patching it for them.
“Moving along the line, I realized that it was helping them, those who would have stayed in the house then will be going to school,” Janet said.
She believes solving the challenges faced in the education sector is everyone’s responsibility.
A school uniform for a girl costs an average of GHȼ65.
Janet ‘Ama Val the Sewing Teacher’ collaborates with, and pays another seamstress to effectively accomplish her task.
She plans her day to ensure her volunteering activity does not affect her teaching obligations.
Her goal is to expand her “One Student, One School Uniform” program to cover more pupils in Ghana.
