Four women of the Hobsons Bay Community Advancement Co-operative are raising money to furnish a women’s refuge they helped to build in Uganda.
Tricia Salau, Jill Bilston, Kim Reilly and her daughter Georgia are holding a fund-raising sale of second-hand goods this Saturday.
In 2012, three of the women established a partnership with Uganda’s Ride 4 a Woman co-operative to develop a ‘Bwindi Sewing Project’, teaching local women how to make commercial tourist items. The trio later returned to build a sorely needed women’s refuge with a multi-purpose area.
Ms Bilston said not a day went by that a person from Hobsons Bay did not bring an item to Altona’s Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre for donation.
“The Hobsons Bay community … [has]taken ownership of this project. It is part of them now.”
She said no donation was too small to help Uganda. “In the second week of the sewing program, we were teaching the ladies [in Uganda] how to create embellishments with fabric and ribbon,” Ms Bilston said.
“Small amounts of ribbon were left over at the end of the day – too short to do anything with – so the women were invited to take them home. No one took more than three pieces each and they all checked to ensure everyone had some.
“On the Sunday, we all went to the church service. It was the most moving experience. Tricia, Kim and I had tears running down our face for most of the service.
“When people lined up for communion we could see all the babies being carried on the mums’ backs. Every baby had a beautiful piece of ribbon woven into their hair or had a pretty bow on a head full of curls.
“Nothing is wasted in Uganda.”
» A fund-raising car boot sale will be held in the Louis Joel centre car park in Sargood Street, Altona, on Saturday from 8am-2pm. If you would like to have your own mini-market of second-hand goods, the cost is $20 per car. louisjlcc.com.au or call 9398 2511
