SISTERWORKS - work empowers women

Craft continues to bring people together, and we are very happy to have met an inspiring group of craft sisters here in Melbourne. SISTERWORKS is a non profit organisation helping asylum seekers, refugee and migrant woman in Melbourne to settle in the Australian society. By supporting the women's creative skills and training in language, design, business and marketing skills, the women gain knowledge and self confidence to work towards their own financial independence. As we feel like this is a project we want to support, Dieter is making a photo-documentary about their work. 

"SisterWorks builds on the traditional skill of these women, to enable them to make and sell handicrafts in Melbourne markets and ‘pop up’ shops. We encourage them to tap into their underlying business and entrepreneurial ability to change their own lives. This simple principle has allowed women to improve their income, develop their English and interact with the broader community. This has connected them to their own culture while forging bonds with their new culture, Australia. Their families see them with new respect, and they now have the confidence and motivation to leave their homes, take on new challenges and face the future with hope."

In only a couple of years SISTERWORKS have come to include 45 lovely craft sisters from different countries and a number of passionate volunteers. Their skills and dedication are truly inspiring. However their work is in serious need of funding to keep developing. Therefore support their campaign at START SOME GOOD http://startsomegood.com/Venture/sisterworks_inc and you help to make a difference. 

Read more about SISTERWORKS on their webpage: http://www.sisterworks.org.au