Balgo, Australia
The Piriwa Enterprise Hub is a space for First Nations women living in remote Balgo to build foundational small business and entrepreneurial skills. It fosters well-being and community cohesion, and profits circulate back to cultural activities that strengthen culture and language.
The project aims to support Piriwa’s sustainability and long-term success by broadening women’s understanding of revenue generation and diversification. It will introduce a new source of income through the sale of creative products made from upcycled clothing donated to the Piriwa Op Shop.
The project will address self-determination, economic exclusion, and enterprise development. Week-long, creative workshops will focus on developing products, including tote bags and earrings, and using painting skills to create unique products. New products will be developed, market-tested, and sold at Piriwa. The leadership team will receive ongoing mentoring to implement the skills learnt at the workshop and work with local partners to re-engage younger women. Piriwa hopes this project will support young women to attend the hub and feel safe to engage in learning opportunities.
The initiative aims to increase the confidence of the Piriwa leadership team as they run community development projects and further develop their skills in project planning, implementation and evaluation.
Albania
Most Filipinos arrive in Albania legally, securing employment as workers in agriculture, factories, domestic service, and tourism. However, some exploitative employers refuse to pay, impose threats, and, in some cases, sell them to sex traffickers. Often, their work or residency permits are not renewed, limiting their work options to the black market, where exploitation is rife. Deportation fears prevent many from seeking help.
Project staff will research the realities of the Filipino community in Albania to deliver evidence-based interventions for trafficked and exploited Filipinos in the country. The data will help establish safety and protective services for those who have been trafficked or exploited. Additional advice, referral, and emergency support services will meet the needs of the community.
The project will develop educational and awareness sessions on human trafficking. Over 500 Filipinos in Albania will also receive a guidebook, including an overview of trafficking and exploitation, safe migration practices based on legal frameworks, services available in Albania, and guidelines for help and support.
This initiative will enable the Filipino community to thrive and work legally in Albania while supporting their families back home. They will understand the risks of human trafficking and access support and protection in Albania. The community will grow to foster justice and freedom for their community.
The project has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the Filipino community in Albania and has been developed with them to address the needs they have identified.
West Bengal, India
The Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre (KMWSC) works with marginalised communities in West Bengal delivering programs that promote education, protection, and gender equality.
The programs rely on the timely delivery of training sessions, and suitable training and accommodation facilities are essential as many travel from rural areas outside Kolkata.
While there is no room to expand KMWSC’s current office, a nearby Loreto school has offered an unused building needing renovation. Situated on a low-lying piece of ground with poor drainage, the water inside remains stagnant until it dries out. Prone to waterlogging, the area is currently unusable during monsoon season and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, presenting a risk of infection and disease.
Mary Ward International Australia will support raising the ground level and installing a suitable drainage system at the new site. This renovation will stop water from pooling on the ground and ensure training programs are implemented on time and as designed.
Once the renovation is complete, in-house workshops and training can be delivered year-round. The workshops and training programs help develop the leadership skills of participants, of which 82 percent are women.
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