Feature Image: Cindy Njamme, Bianca Long holding baby Napanagnka and her mother Kiara Njamme
“The first time I visited Balgo, the local women cried,” says Bianca Long. “It made me realise how welcome I was. It really warmed my heart.”
There’s little in Balgo. It’s a town of red dirt. The football field is gravel. The population of 500 people includes over eight First Nations language groups.
With limited job opportunities, people must make their own.
That’s why, thanks to you, Mary Ward International supports Bianca’s work at Piriwa.
Bianca, also known as ‘Jaru girl’ on her fashion label, frequently visits the Piriwa Enterprise Hub as a business development mentor. She works with local First Nations women to develop financial literacy, create products and businesses, and acquire the skills they need to succeed.
“I work with the local women to teach them about printing and designing clothes,” says Bianca. “The goal is for Piriwa to develop their own fashion label and for the women to learn about fabric printing and design and making clothing via upcycling, as well as business and selling.”
The goal is to have a range of locally produced or upcycled clothing products for the Kimberley Showcase in 2025.
“We hope to have young women model and be photographers. We’ll have a market at the showcase, which will help raise funds and also help young women learn financial literacy. We sell through the Piriwa op shop and aim to sell online as well.”
Their plans are modest – photography, retail, fabric design, soap making, and clothing upcycling.
“But,” says Bianca, “It’s not just about skills, it’s about leadership development too. I’m teaching them to be stronger women who can speak up and lead the change in economic development. We need to empower more women to become leaders in their communities for their families and generations to come. It has a multi-generational effect.”
“It’s good for the community because everything they do through the Piriwa Op Shop comes back to the community,” continued Bianca. “Selling clothes and the fashion label gives them money to take young people out on country as well as older people and keep people strong and promote wellbeing.”
“And it teaches them that it’s OK for women to stand up and be leaders.”
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