For Binta, creating something with her hands has always come naturally. She has a gift for turning her ideas into something beautiful through tailoring! Binta has made wedding dresses and authentic African pieces that brings joy to the people around her. However, reading was a different story, having moved to the U.S. from Gambia and living with dyslexia. Binta faced challenges with reading that affected her confidence and made everyday tasks more difficult.
Reaching Her Initial Goals
She knew she wanted to improve her reading and started researching local programs online. She eventually found Literacy Rochester and, with her husband’s help, completed the paperwork to be matched with a tutor. In February 2024, Binta was matched with volunteer tutor, Kathryn. During their first year tutoring together, Kathryn and Binta focused on the foundations of reading, including the alphabet, pronunciation, and basic reading skills. Kathryn worked diligently to find specific resources to help with Binta’s dyslexia as well. After some time, Binta was making incredible progress, and her next goal was to get her citizenship. With help from Kathryn, Binta studied and recently became a U.S. citizen.
Through their work together, Binta and Kathryn have developed a strong bond and friendship. Their connection is evident when they talk about their experiences and the progress they made together. Since being welcomed at Literacy Rochester, Binta says she can read better than before and sometimes surprises herself, “Oh wow! I’m reading!” For Kathryn, watching Binta grow has been especially rewarding. She describes her student as “bright, motivated with extraordinary talent.”
Expanding Her Business
What was next for Binta? She had accomplished two major life goals and now she was ready to tackle her most anticipated project of expanding her tailoring business to the online space. Binta had already established herself as a tailor through word-of-mouth referrals, but she wanted to turn her passion into a stable and successful career. To do that, Binta knew she needed to reach customers beyond her existing network and decided it was time for a website!
However, building an online presence came with its own challenges. Binta and Kathryn worked together to seek additional support through the ROC Women’s Business Center at the Urban League of Rochester, N.Y., Inc. For the past three months, they have been working with Abby, a Business Specialist, to build Binta’s website from scratch and develop her social media presence. After adding the final details, the website recently launched! Binta has already been contacted by potential clients who discovered her services through a simple Google search. You can find Binta’s website here. As a thank you for her help, Binta hand made some pants for Abby! (You can see the pants in the photo, left to right, Kathryn, Binta, and Abby).
Website: https://bjtailoringandcrafts.com/
Socials: @bjtailoringandcraftx
These moments are more than small victories, they are also reminders of how far Binta has come. Binta’s confidence, combined with Kathryn’s patience and encouragement, has helped her overcome her reading challenges all while continuing to pursue her dreams. Reading was the steppingstone in a journey that included becoming a citizen, growing a business, supporting her family, and believing more deeply in her own abilities.
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