SewBoss Program – Sparrow Society

"Sparrow Society gave my power back"

Sparrow Society is not a traditional factory, but rather works through the creation of a network of over 250 home-based seamstresses (SewBoss), empowering women with basic business skills, a start-up grant, and a support network to allow her flexibility and ownership, while maintaining access to ongoing work opportunities and peer support to keep her business sustainable.

Liziwe Botha

Liziwe is one of our incredible SewBosses who ventured out last year to start her own business, Lizz Accessories. Covid threw her intense challenges in her first year of business, but she adapted quickly and is thriving. She is one of over 250 independent sewing businesses that make up Sparrow Society’s SewBoss network.

Rozel Brandt

Affectionately known around Sparrow Society as “Mama Rose”, Rozel has been with Sparrow Society since 2017. She started as a SewBoss, then started working as one of our in-house seamstresses and is now the head trainer in both our PowerPads and SewBoss programs. This video was made in partnership with Elizabeth Arden, highlighting her SewBoss work creating their cosmetic bags.

Kolisi Foundation & Roche Pharma

A story of hope and impact in the middle of the Covid 19 pandemic in South Africa. Roche & the Kolisi Foundation have come together with Sparrow Society to empower women across Cape Town to make 66,000 face masks for free distribution to vulnerable communities across South Africa. This partnership empowered over 70 women with dignifying and viable jobs that they could do from the safety of their homes. An incredible story of what can happen when we work together in times of crisis.

Dignity & Opportunity

When Covid forced everyone into lockdown and manufacturing jobs were hit pretty hard, Sparrow Society saw an opportunity to create a safer option for women to work from home – keeping them safe from exposure to the virus while being able to care for their children and families. We trained over 150 women in the middle of harsh restrictions, only requiring them to come in for training and orientation for a single day and then setting them up with regular deliveries and collections, reducing their need to take public transport.