From Sewing Student to Shop Owner: The Journey of Teranme Hugues in Haiti
WFWPI Funding Project 2022 Success Story | Sewing Class in Haiti
In 2022, Teranme Hugues was one of the first students in a sewing class supported through the WFWPI Funding Project in Haiti, focused, hopeful, and learning behind a sewing machine.
Today, at 30, he stands as a living example of what vocational training can unlock: dignity, income, and a future built by one’s own hands. Based in Des Ruisseaux, he has turned his training into a thriving local business.
After completing the course, Teranme didn’t wait for a job opening or outside help. He invested his first savings to open what he now proudly calls his “Shop.” It’s no longer just a small workshop; it's become a trusted community hub where “style meets precision,” attracting clients who value quality craftsmanship.
What made the difference wasn’t luck; it was discipline. Teranme credits rigorous management and the cutting and assembly techniques he mastered during the course as the foundation for his growth.
Teranme’s shop generates an impressive monthly income of US$579.15 (75,000 HTG) to US$1,544.40 (200,000 HTG), a strong sign of sustainability in a challenging economic environment.
But the impact goes beyond revenue.
Teranme is no longer working alone. As his business stabilized, he hired a full-time employee, creating a job and building consistent production for his growing customer base.
Inside his shop, the structure reflects serious professionalism supported by:
Two industrial machines running at full capacity
An organized cutting area
Strong customer management to keep the business steady and trusted
Teranme has become a respected presence in Des Ruisseaux, showing what’s possible when training meets determination.
His story carries three powerful lessons:
Technical training pays off: skills create real pathways.
Youth is a strength: leadership can start at 30.
Independence is possible: a future can be built locally, step by step.
Teranme’s encouragement to new trainees is simple and powerful: “When I started with my first scraps of fabric, I never imagined I would own my own shop and have an employee working for me. Sewing gave me freedom… If I could do it in Des Ruisseaux, you can do it anywhere.”
