Sew Let’s Talk: AKAs Create for a Good Cause

On Wednesday, March 4, 2021, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Beta Psi Chapter of Southern University hosted their third part of the “Sew Let’s Talk” series via Zoom that evening. On Zoom, the ladies created pillowcase dresses that will be donated to girls in Haiti. This event is annual and, according to the chapter president, Nicole Moore, this is one of her favorites.
The “Sew Let’s Talk” event is not unique to just Southern University’s campus. The AKA sorority has a national goal to collect 29,108 pillowcase dresses to help the little girls in Africa. The Beta Psi Chapter plans to have 60 dresses donated to Real Hope for Haiti, a nonprofit organization based in Indiana. This organization focuses on a particularly impoverished part of Haiti, also known as Cazale. It has culminated in a medical clinic and rescue center for life-threatening conditions, such as kwashiorkor, severe malnutrition, and third-degree burns. The dresses collected will be given to those suffering from the diseases.
The sorority expanded on why pillowcases are the go-to items for this event. They are readily available and come in all colors and patterns. They have a hem and the side seams in them. The brightly colored patterns are perfect for the Sundresses with the African climate. Finally, they are simple enough for even a novice to sew. Although the focus of the event is to sew the dresses for the little girls in Haiti, the other point to this event is to have open discussions about the lives of college women. President Moore said, “This year looked a little different than normal due to it being virtual, but we always try to find a way to continue to be of service to all mankind even during a pandemic.”
The AKA’s are always looking for new service projects to serve their community. This semester they have collected and donated 60 backpacks filled with several non-perishable food items and toiletries to children in foster homes. The event will be held again during AKA week, but this time the intensity will be a bit higher as they plan to collect 100 bags. Be on the lookout for more events from the Beta Psi Chapter of AKA’s.