APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Apprenticeship: A Technical Career Path – this program introduces participants to the professional workforce while still being trained on manufacturing industry standards. Participants are paid above minimum wage while developing their industry level skills. After the six month long apprenticeship, a participant now has a trajectory to enter the competitive workforce.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Development for our organization goes beyond our program participants. We believe in providing anyone who is interested in learning and growing in the sewn trades and production the opportunity to do so. We teach our community members and workshop participants transferable, relevant and valuable skills that create generational wealth.
FAIR LABOR
As part of our commitment to equity and sustainable labor policies we lead by example in the fair labor front. Participants that go through our apprenticeship program are paid for their time in the program and encouraged to continue on into the sewn trades industry. We are building our production facilities to pay on an above living-wage standard with the hope to provide sustainable financial paths forward for our community.
EFFICIENCY
The main and most important takeaway from the apprenticeship program is that our participants leave the program with an efficiency that competes head to head with the broader sewn trades industry. Throughout the length of the program participants develop their efficiency across commonly produced categories like, tees, trousers, shirts and underwear making them a valuable addition to any workforce they decide to pursue.
Meet THE
SEWING APPRENTICES
Furaha MButo
My name is Furaha MButo and I am originally from Congo and reside in the city of Fayetteville. Currently, I am a sewist for INTERFORM, this has given me the opportunity to learn more skills to secure jobs that help our families and communities.
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Sikitu MButo
My name is Sikitu Mbuto. I’m originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have resided in Arkansas since 2018, where I began learning about sewing at INTERFORM. I love all my teachers. My whole mind is that God bless you for volunteering to teach us even if we don’t know English!
Tie Matthew
My name is Tie Matthew and I was born and raised in the Marshall Islands. I moved to Arkansas in 2017. Beginning in 2019, I attended my first INTERFORM sewing class and since then have continued to expand my knowledge and skills here.
Gina Janer
My name is Gina Janer and I was raised in the Marshall Islands. I moved to Springdale, AR back in 2006. In 2016, I began to take sewing classes at INTERFORM which has opened the door to many opportunities. I currently work as a professional sewist here. I want to give thanks to Basana, Jessica, Abwe, Richard, and INTERFORM staff for helping and supporting me.
Valentina Lukebol
My family came to Georgia then Arkansas and started the church. Our children started to go to school and we looked for work. We were here to make a new life. This life here is so good, and I am proud of all my teachers who teach me about sewing.