Young women making reusable bags out of fabric scraps, Fiji
Women in Dakuinuku Village are gathering to create environmentally-friendly options for their community
The young women are sewing reusable bags as an environmentally friendly alternative for market stalls. Fiji has made the move to ban single-use plastic bags, these bags fill the gap in a better way than others – utilising fabric scraps that would otherwise go to waste.
Lela, community worker and Ola Fou alumni, works with the group to engage with garment factories and local vendors with the hope of reducing the environmental impact that fabric waste causes. These reusable bags can be a better option than the heavier-duty plastic alternatives that are made to replace single-use ones. As well as enabling their community to better care for the environment, the fortnightly gatherings offer support and upskilling for the young women involved.
The details
The first stage of this project will sponsor 100 reusable bags.
Bags cost $4 NZD each, with over half going towards the woman who sewed the bag. Donations to overseas projects are not eligible for tax deduction.
All ARO projects will have an independent verifier local to the region to monitor progress and outcomes.
