Hand-operated sewing machine for wheelchair users in the garment industry

HOKO Innovation, a small Ethiopian NGO focused on disability inclusion in the garment sector, created an industrial sewing machine accessible to persons with physical disabilities and wheelchair users. By replacing the foot pedal with hand controls and making the height adjustable, the machine enables equal participation in vocational training and employment. Between 2022 and 2025, 156 persons with disabilities benefited, with 70 percent of them moving into income-generating jobs.

Solution: HOKO Accessible Industrial Sewing Machine
Organization: HOKO
Country of Implementation: Ethiopia

Find out more here: Zero Project Database

[Alt text:A young African woman attentively sews fabric using an accessible sewing machine while a man observes nearby. The scene reflects empowerment through vocational training and the importance of inclusive employment opportunities that value skill and independence.]