Located in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea the Mt Hagen Handicraft Group is an all women self help initiative which includes a high proportion of mothers living with HIV/AIDS in their families and communities. The women in our group have gone through and are still trying to deal with the immense struggles and difficulties in their lives. Their current situation includes poverty, family violence, drugs, prostitution, tribal fighting and the increasing rise of HIV/AIDS. In the midst of these troubles the women's primary motivations are to have decent food on the table for their families at the end of each day and to send their children to school.
The women in our group are skilled in the making of the traditional handicraft - a versatile bag called a "bilum" Selling them on the side of the road or at the local market has so far been their only outlet. Very few tourists visit Mt Hagen, apart from during the annual "sing sing" festival, which means very limited local demand for the bilums.
The bilum bag is unique to Papua New Guinea. It is time consuming work taking weeks to complete. People love bilums. Not only are they are a functional bag (or baby sling!) but the brightly coloured and distinctive patterns make each one a very special, hand crafted work of art.
Most women in the Highlands can make bilums so the creation of a website aimed at the export market could help provide a sustainable livelihood to help them meet the needs of their families. It also keeps this traditional art alive
The women in our group are skilled in the making of the traditional handicraft - a versatile bag called a "bilum" Selling them on the side of the road or at the local market has so far been their only outlet. Very few tourists visit Mt Hagen, apart from during the annual "sing sing" festival, which means very limited local demand for the bilums.
The bilum bag is unique to Papua New Guinea. It is time consuming work taking weeks to complete. People love bilums. Not only are they are a functional bag (or baby sling!) but the brightly coloured and distinctive patterns make each one a very special, hand crafted work of art.
Most women in the Highlands can make bilums so the creation of a website aimed at the export market could help provide a sustainable livelihood to help them meet the needs of their families. It also keeps this traditional art alive
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I agree. Mostly women are interested of making handicrafts. And I was impressed to the aim of your website to help women to export its market to sustained livelihood that can able to help them to meet their daily needs.
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