Floren Shamis
Floren Shamis was born in Pakistan and moved to Bristol when she was a child. She is the Manager at Silai for Skills and has worked there for 14 years.
"I remember when we first went to All Hallows Road, we used to without fail, rain, shine whatever, we used to be at Friday Market, door-to-door. I must have been to every single door here. Knocking on the door talking to people encouraging husbands, brothers, to encourage their wives, sisters, mothers, to come out, and come to the courses. Because I felt that they needed to recognise a face, they need to trust somebody, they need to say "Oh that seemed like a nice girl." . Even the husband saying to the wife "I think you ought to go because she seemed like a really nice person." So that's why we made so much effort and going door-to-door, all those big flats, we've been there almost every year. Delivering leaflets, talking to people and it really worked. It did encourage a lot of women to come out of their houses and come to Silai, and now Silai has built up a reputation so people just come anyway.
When it's happening every day you don't think, then when you think back you say, "My God! What a difference has it made to people's lives." And women do come, some women just come for the sake of being here. It's not only learning the language and learning sewing skills, it's everything else to go with it. You build your confidence, and your kids are learning how to be part of the team, how to share their toys, and adults learn how to work as part of the team as well."
