Bringing Hope To Refugee Women of Africa

Art Forms is a program under the UCC Whale Center (a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt Utah not for profit organization) that empowers local African refugee women with the skills necessary to attain better employment opportunities or to start their own small businesses. The goal of this endeavor is to help refugee women gain confidence, become economically self-sufficient and contribute rather than remain a liability to the community. Art Forms is located in the A Gift To Africa gallery at Arts Space City Center (230 South 500 West, Suite 215) in Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.

Currently, the program is training women in seamstress (tailoring) skills required in the production of high-end African upholstered purses using electric sewing machines. The current project comprises of 8 women from Sudan who have been in Utah for 5 years or more but continue to struggle to raise their families as they have low paying jobs, have limited English-speaking skills, never had formal education or training in trade, often struggle with transportation and affordable day-care for their children.

For any further information, please contact the organization’s coordinator, Sabina Zunguze at (801) 746-1194.

The organization is always accepting monetary donations to purchase materials for its projects. The organization is also in need of new or used sewing machines and sewing notions.

Any clothing and non-perishable food donations for the families are welcome.

Watch KSL News story on ArtForms