Women from Uganda will be the beneficiaries of a giant garage sale being held in Williamstown to raise money for the Bwindi Community Program.
One of the project’s founders, Tricia Salau said proceeds would go towards building a tourist shop showcasing products sewn by the local women using African fabrics.
To date, the project – founded and supported by members of the Hobsons Bay community – has funded a sewing microbusiness with the Ugandan Ride 4 a Woman (R4W) co-operative.
It has also helped develop a women’s refuge and a hostel, empowering women in the communities surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Ms Salau, who recently returned from Uganda, said the garage sale would help fund a shop in the village.
“When we first went there, all there was was an open-air community centre with a thatched roof and a dirt floor,” she said.
“Now they have a house for the manager to live in, they’ve opened a homestay for tourists and a women’s refuge.
“They have a dining room with a chef for when people stay there.
“And the big thing that we did last year … was help them build free range chook enclosures so they could be self sufficient in eggs and also use the eggs in the dining room. The manure from the chickens is composted to put back on the vegie gardens.”
The chickens were funded by Hobsons Bay residents who gave them names such as Doris Lay and Gregory Peck.
The garage sale will be held on Saturday, June 17 from 9am at 8 Russell Place, Williamstown.
