Most of Iowa’s African newcomers are refugees who come to Iowa to create new lives for themselves and their children. They arrive with few economic resources. Because African women in Iowa City have clearly communicated their interest in sewing, Nisaa proposes to establish the Friendship Sewing Cooperative (FSC) designed to enable African immigrant and refugee women to earn income, imagine themselves as entrepreneurs, build confidence, and cultivate supportive networks. Nisaa’s overall goal is to reduce vulnerability to domestic violence and sexual assault.
