As Jasmine finished school at St Mary’s Girls’ Secondary School in Darjeeling’s tea estates, she felt uncertain about what lay ahead. Like many girls in her community, she dreamed of pursuing higher education but had limited exposure to opportunities, guidance, and encouragement.
That changed when she joined the Collective Voices Project’sCareer Guidance Program at the Darjeeling Mary Ward Social Centre. Through interactive sessions, group discussions, and one-on-one mentoring, Jasmine discovered a passion for governance, society, and public service. She received practical advice on college applications, goal-setting, and career pathways, while learning to navigate social and financial barriers. With new clarity and confidence, she applied to several colleges to study a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Honours).
“Before attending the program, I was unsure about what to do next. The sessions opened my mind. Now I have a goal – I want to contribute to my community and make a difference,” Jasmine reflects.
In the past year alone, the program has supported 45 young people to pursue higher education, vocational training, scholarships, and government schemes. Beyond career guidance, the Collective Voices Project strengthens the wellbeing and leadership of women and girls across Darjeeling’s tea estates through rights education, health awareness, and income-generation initiatives. By building practical skills and creating pathways for community participation, the project helps young women grow in confidence, expand their opportunities, and make informed decisions about their futures. Partnerships with schools and local leaders ensure that this support continues to have a lasting impact.
Through the Collective Voices Project, hundreds of girls like Jasmine are gaining confidence, pursuing higher education, shaping their futures, and inspiring those around them. With each generation, the program’s impact grows, enabling young women to transform their ambitions into real opportunities.
Women Building Stories of Strength in Kenya
From Chapatis to Cabinetry: Grace’s Journey
At just 20 years old, Grace* was a mother to a three-year-old and facing an uncertain future. Financial hardship forced her to drop out of school, and she spent the days helping her mother run a small chapati stall near their home in Kibera, one of Kenya’s largest informal settlements.
“I didn’t want to depend on anyone, but I didn’t know how to move forward,” Grace said. “Life in the informal settlement can make you feel like your dreams are too big for your reality.”
Everything changed when Grace heard about a Mary Ward International-funded carpentry and cabinetry training program run by Sr Leonida Kwamboka ibvm. The program aimed to equip women with practical skills in construction and technical trades. She applied without hesitation.
Though it wasn’t easy entering a male-dominated field, Grace was determined to build a better life for herself and her daughter. During her internship, she volunteered under a cabinetry supervisor, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship. Twelve months later, the supervisor offered her a paid position.
Today, Grace earns a steady income and takes on side jobs such as door fittings to supplement her earnings. She can buy food and clothes for her daughter and even save for her school needs. “I now wake up with purpose, knowing that I have skills people value. I’m not just helping out anymore, I’m building something of my own.”
At her graduation, Grace was recognised as the best student in carpentry. “Holding that certificate in my hands, I felt so proud, not just for myself, but for every young woman who’s ever been told she can’t. From selling chapatis on the roadside to being recognised for my skills, it felt like I was stepping into a new chapter of my life.”
Grace dreams of one day opening her own workshop and training other women. “You gave me a chance, and I did not waste it. I believe that with time, hard work, and continued support, anything is possible.”
Painting a New Path: Josephine’s Story
After losing both parents at the age of five, Josephine’s* grandmother raised her. She became a young mother while still in school, but with her grandmother’s support, she went on to complete her secondary school exams. With children to care for and no money for college, she turned to beadwork, crafting traditional Maasai designs to earn an income. But as the market became saturated, her earnings dwindled.
When her mother-in-law introduced her to the women’s livelihoods program, Josephine was drawn to the idea of learning construction skills. She enrolled and chose to specialise in painting and decorating.
“The day I graduated from the course was one of the proudest moments of my life,” Josephine said. “I never imagined I would wear a graduation gown or receive a certificate with my name on it. I had given up on education after high school, thinking that was the end for me. But there I was, standing tall, smiling, and holding proof that I had made it.”
Today, Josephine works as a professional painter, earning a stable income and is proud to be able to pay rent, buy food, and send her three children to school.
“I received a chance I never thought I would,” she says, “and now I have the confidence, skills, and strength to build a better life for my children and myself.”
Building Skills and Confidence Beyond Construction
Grace and Josephine’s stories are part of a broader initiative, supported by Mary Ward International, to build women’s confidence, especially in financial decision-making and future planning.
The program extends beyond construction training, offering a ‘Street MBA’ course that teaches essential business and entrepreneurship skills, including managing finances, pricing services, and attracting customers.
Many graduates have started small businesses, while others have joined complementary programs in cooking and housekeeping, launching food enterprises or improving their families’ nutrition and wellbeing.
By gaining skills in carpentry, painting, and business, Grace, Josephine, and others like them have transformed their lives and are emerging as new leaders in Kibera, demonstrating to their community that with determination and the right support, anything is possible. Their stories remind us that when women have the tools and confidence to succeed, they build brighter futures for all.
* All names changed for privacy.
Walking With Resilience: First Nations Women at KAFTA
Feature Image: Monica Njamme, Kathryn Njamme, Judy Gill, Cindy Gibson, Maxine Gill, Mary Njamme by Camera Story
First Nations women are the custodians of culture, language, and tradition. In Balgo, the women of the Piriwa Enterprise Hub embody this responsibility, demonstrating remarkable strength and grace in the face of hardship, loss, and grief.
With a focus on supporting female entrepreneurship in Balgo, the Piriwa Enterprise Hub helps women see self-employment as a viable and achievable option. By combining cultural knowledge with business skills, Piriwa enables women to turn ideas into income while strengthening the resilience of their community.
Piriwa’s latest initiative, made possible by Mary Ward International, brought the women from Balgo to the Kimberley Aboriginal Fashion and Textile Art (KAFTA) event in Broome. This was the first time Piriwa participated in the annual gathering, which showcases Indigenous fashion, textiles, and art from across the Kimberley region.
KAFTA gave the Piriwa women a platform to share their stories, present their designs, and create a space where culture, creativity, and connection could flourish, despite the challenges often faced by First Nations women.
“KAFTA was a lovely day for our families, and it was the first time we had gone; we are so proud for doing this fashion event.” Monica Njamme
Nadine Miller added, “Everybody was so proud seeing us on social media, it was really good and exciting, and we were so proud of our ladies walking the catwalk and seeing all the Indigenous fashion. Everybody was so excited telling us that ‘it was amazing what you did that modelling’. Some people were crying with happiness.”
“We hope some young women and men join us next time for KAFTA.”
This project was a collaborative effort involving artists from the Piriwa Enterprise Hub, mentored by Bianca Long from Jaru Girl, with partners Camera Story and Enterprise Partnerships WA. Bianca worked closely with the women, offering guidance on design, upcycling techniques, and runway presentation. For these remotely based entrepreneurs, KAFTA was a rare opportunity to share stories and take centre stage. Family and supporters from Balgo joined the celebration virtually, live-streaming the catwalk on TikTok and bringing the excitement home to the community.
Kukatja and Ngardi woman and Piriwa co-leader, Kathryn Njamme, explained the inspiration: “The designs are created on upcycled garments and represent bushtucker, flowers and animals from the desert. We named it Piriwa after the flowers that we used to collect, they’ve got honey. As a kid, we used to eat them, suck on the flowers with honey in it, and it’s very sweet,” she said.
Beyond the art and fashion, this project reflects the determination of remote First Nations women to maintain their language and traditions amid social, economic, and emotional challenges. The act of coming together to create, mentor, and share knowledge is a powerful form of cultural preservation and healing.
Image: Kathryn Njamme by Camera Story
Bianca Long
Bianca Long’s mentorship nurtured the skills and confidence of these emerging artists while encouraging cultural knowledge-sharing. The pride and wellbeing generated by these opportunities extend far beyond the event, reinforcing identity within families and communities.
The Piriwa women’s participation at KAFTA stands as a testament to how culture, creativity, and collaboration offer meaningful pathways for remote First Nations women to preserve their language and traditions.
Bianca Long is reshaping what leadership looks like in remote Australia. Through her business Jaru Girl, she mentors the women of Piriwa in leadership, enterprise, and cultural business development, playing a key role in their remarkable success at KAFTA.
In August, with support from the Mary Ward International Women’s Leadership Fund, Bianca took her own vision to the national stage at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), showcasing her new fashion and textile line, The Milky Water Collection.
Each year, DAAF brings together dozens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and connects them with international audiences. The opportunity allowed Bianca to broaden her connections with industry leaders, galleries, and buyers, while shining a spotlight on the extraordinary talent of remote First Nations women.
Her success at DAAF drew strong interest and, most significantly, has resulted in Bianca being invited to present The Milky Water Collection at the 2025 ganbu marra Runway event at Melbourne Fashion Week this October.
It is our hope that this exposure will amplify Bianca’s leadership profile and inspire other First Nations women to combine cultural knowledge with business skills, grow their economic participation, and create benefits that extend far beyond Bianca herself.
