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12:22 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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JoannaS
| | Latvia | |
|  Supreme Being | posts 3987 | |
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A local orphanage/children's home is struggling to stay afloat here in Latvia in the recent economic meltdown and they are looking at ways of utilising spare space in order to remain open. This place has lovely kids who really look out for each other and it would be a shame to split them up and unsettle them. 
The idea is that an accredited course will be set up in order to utilise the spare rooms as the students will stay in accommodation owned by the orphanage in the small village in which it is based (they have apartments nearby for older children). The accredited course will teach sewing skills to unemployed youngsters and is a three year course but they need sewing machines to get the project underway.
I thought I would run the idea past you forumites to see if anyone has a spare sewing machine in good working order they would be willing to donate? I will be in the UK in October by car and I have a friend who is shipping some other things over to Latvia and is quite willing to make room in his van/container for some sewing machines late October/early November. It would mean getting the machines to the South of England though. 
Well there is no harm in asking! 
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1:03 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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danast
| | Argyll, Scotland | |
| Supreme Being | posts 5024 | |
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That's a great idea Joanna, but I am sorry but on this occasion I cannot help.
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Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
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1:15 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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KateUK
| | uk | |
|  Councillor | posts 1648 | |
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Sorry Joanna- mine has gone to my daughter ( who asnapped it up just before my niece).
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2:22 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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brightspark
| | Wilts | |
| Supreme Being | posts 4657 | |
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Hi Joanna – coincidentally, this request has come to me before, from a charity called "Hope & Aid Direct", and the reason then was that in Kosovo, a local smallish factory has been targeted by explosives, etc., and although it was still standing, just – the inside was going to be turned into a sewing 'school' to help people use what little they had. In making things, it gave them something to barter with – we all know that system well now   .
I decided to go to house-clearance-type auctions, and managed to pick up some sewing machines for as little as £2 upwards. Also advertising in the 'Wanted' columns in local newspapers may achieve some results.
When I'm back in the UK, I can ask around and see if there is anything I can do.
Here's hoping!
Oh, and btw – where in the 'South of England'? I live in Wiltshire.
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"I tried to contain myself, but I escaped."
Gina Birch
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4:07 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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Toffeeapple
| | North Bucks | |
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Post edited 4:08 pm – Thu 26-Aug-10 by Toffeeapple
I'd like to help Joanna, but there is no way I'd donate my machine. 
Could you contact charities such as Oxfam perhaps – they might give you some ideas, if not machines.
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8:32 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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JoannaS
| | Latvia | |
| Supreme Being | posts 3987 | |
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BS West Sussex and Bristol areas I think, well that kind of area. Of course if there is any news then we can PM.
TA I will just try the easy options first  before casting my net wider. They are not having my machines either but one is because it is a relatively new quilting machine I bought in the states and they would need a transformer even if I could bear to part with it. My other machine would make a parts machine as it is rather old and needs repairs. 
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10:21 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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Danny
| | Newmarket, England | |
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What type of machines, Joanna?
Electric or treadle / manual?
Or does it matter?
How many?
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11:06 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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brightspark
| | Wilts | |
| Supreme Being | posts 4657 | |
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Danny said:
What type of machines, Joanna?
Electric or treadle / manual?
Or does it matter?
How many?
Gosh, Danny, that's quite a question, how many ? !!!!!
I wouldn't think it matters what type they are, as long as they work!
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"I tried to contain myself, but I escaped."
Gina Birch
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11:11 pm
Thu 26-Aug-10
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brightspark
| | Wilts | |
| Supreme Being | posts 4657 | |
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Joanna, what about knitting machines?
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"I tried to contain myself, but I escaped."
Gina Birch
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3:15 am
Fri 27-Aug-10
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Michelle from Oregon
| | Oregon, USA | |
| Councillor | posts 1237 | 
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Joanna, do you have a paypal account?
Trying to ship a machine from here would be waaaaayyyy to costly, but I'd be happy to donate some money to your cause, and then you could put it toward one of Brightspark's auction machines.
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If you can't be a shining example, be a terrible warning!
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9:16 am
Fri 27-Aug-10
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JoannaS
| | Latvia | |
| Supreme Being | posts 3987 | |
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The other problem with shipping from the US is the voltage differences otherwise I could organise something from there Michelle. I don't have a paypal account but then I would also have to get the money to Brightspark.
Maybe Brightspark has a paypal account?
brightspark said:
Joanna, what about knitting machines?
Now's there a point, I wonder if they do want those? I have two that I have kept thinking someone might make use of them
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9:18 am
Fri 27-Aug-10
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JoannaS
| | Latvia | |
| Supreme Being | posts 3987 | |
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brightspark said:
Danny said:
What type of machines, Joanna?
Electric or treadle / manual?
Or does it matter?
How many?
Gosh, Danny, that's quite a question, how many ? !!!!!
I wouldn't think it matters what type they are, as long as they work!
I would think electric machines as the idea is that they train youngsters to use the machines to help in their employment prospects and maybe they could set up their own businesses. They want different machines so that they get used to the different sorts of set up and they would want 8 machines.
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1:20 pm
Fri 27-Aug-10
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brightspark
| | Wilts | |
| Supreme Being | posts 4657 | |
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Hubby does have a paypal a/c, but let's see if we can get some machines first !!!!!!!!!!!
Many thanks, Michelle, that's a very generous thought – very kind indeed. 
Perhaps e-bay is another idea – though a little risky as to whether a machine was in fully working order. Just had a quick look, and the old-style Singer-type machines are anything from £15 upwards, but any newer machine is a great deal more, so just have to keep looking!
Although electric ones would be ideal, Joanna, I do think that they would be very grateful for anything in working order – and, as the course progresses, maybe they could provide better ones in the future. In fact, getting to know many types of machines can be quite useful for experience.
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"I tried to contain myself, but I escaped."
Gina Birch
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1:45 pm
Fri 27-Aug-10
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JoannaS
| | Latvia | |
| Supreme Being | posts 3987 | |
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Post edited 5:02 pm – Fri 27-Aug-10 by JoannaS
I think to be a fully accredited course they would want electric ones. They are probably also hunting around other sources of funding too but anything that reduces expenditure in this climate is good. I agree though that getting to know different machines is certainly useful and so basic sewing machines for the first year will be good but I think they will need to progress onto more complicated machines after that.
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8:52 am
Fri 17-Sep-10
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JoannaS
| | Latvia | |
| Supreme Being | posts 3987 | |
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Exciting news I may have the potential of up to 7 sewing machines so still need just one more, so if anyone knows of a sewing machine in good working order going to waste and could possibly get it down to the Worthing area then do let me know
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