Female Tailor Space intern

solution: breaking the dependency cycle by building resilience and autonomy. We build structures and networks that support displaced people to become resilient, autonomous and self-reliant again!

Since May 2022 we are running a Women’s and Kid’s space in Athens. In our Center we offer a clean, safe, and supportive community space every day. Children can enjoy their time in our child-friendly area, which is equipped with arts and craft materials as well as many toys to play with. In the designated textile maker space, we offer refugee women the opportunity to attend sewing courses, sew independently. or become part of our sewing project (for very good seamstresses). Besides that we offer different activities depending on the skills of the volunteers and the needs of the women visiting our center.

Our Social Factory proudly employs five talented women from the refugee community. They craft a range of products including bum bags, wallets, handbags, crochet items, and more, which we distribute across Switzerland and Europe. As a Tailor Space Intern, you’ll have a dynamic role. On one hand, you’ll work directly alongside our skilled tailors, assisting in product development, organizing trainings, and ensuring the smooth operation of the tailor space. On the other hand, you’ll provide invaluable support to the wider team through general volunteering. This entails various tasks at the Victoria Community Center, such as registering individuals, engaging with children, and fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere for everyone who enters our space.

Key responsibilities of the job include:

• Maintain the sewing space
• Overseeing the work of our tailors (quality control, organizing trainings)
• Offer sewing classes for beginners
• Prepare fabrics and materials for the tailors
• Developing new products
• Support with logistic tasks concerning the tailor space (placing orders, research materials and potential partners)
• Support with regular trips to the Eleonas flea market for supplies
• Providing appropriate support and guidance to children in the Kid’s space
• Providing social support including maintaining an environment that builds the confidence, resilience and self-esteem of women and children
• Attend weekly team meetings
• Remaining flexible based on the project needs
• Cleaning of the spaces after your shift along with the rest of the volunteer team

Your desired set of skills:

• Experience in sewing, creating patterns and using an industrial machine, crocheting is an asset. Training as a seamstress would be ideal.
• Fluency in English is required, French/Arabic/Farsi or German is an asset.
• An awareness and interest in migration issues and sensitivity to working with vulnerable communities
• Motivation and passion for working alongside a dynamic and hard-working team

Interns are responsible for covering transport costs to and from Athens. The internship is unpaid.