a ministry of HOPE
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
After spending 5 years in the third world (PNG), there is a growing passion in me, to act on this mandate to care for the orphan and the widow. Mt Hagen Handicraft Group has been established as a way of supporting local women who make hand woven bilums (bags), for sale to the local and international market. I have had the pleasure of getting to know some of these beautiful women during our time here in Mt Hagen and I am encouraged and blessed by their strong spirits and beaming faces, in spite of the hardship they face each day.
I was deeply humbled by a comment I heard recently, in relation to how people determine wealth in this country. In our 'developed' countries, we determine wealth by the size of our homes, cars and bank balance. Here, if you have a tin roof on your house you have 'made it'. The contrast is startling!
Please check out the link below to read more stories like this, about the lives and plight of women in Papua New Guinea.
After spending 5 years in the third world (PNG), there is a growing passion in me, to act on this mandate to care for the orphan and the widow. Mt Hagen Handicraft Group has been established as a way of supporting local women who make hand woven bilums (bags), for sale to the local and international market. I have had the pleasure of getting to know some of these beautiful women during our time here in Mt Hagen and I am encouraged and blessed by their strong spirits and beaming faces, in spite of the hardship they face each day.
I was deeply humbled by a comment I heard recently, in relation to how people determine wealth in this country. In our 'developed' countries, we determine wealth by the size of our homes, cars and bank balance. Here, if you have a tin roof on your house you have 'made it'. The contrast is startling!
Please check out the link below to read more stories like this, about the lives and plight of women in Papua New Guinea.
My Liklik Bilum Store
Here is a small selection of beautiful PNG bilums. Your purchase will assist local women in supporting their families and paying for school fees, as it is for many of them, their only source of income. All prices are in Australian Dollars and include postage.
Bilum hat
Made from hand twisted acrylic, these hats are traditionally worn by Highlands men and boys. Complete the look with a secondhand suit jacket, some as tanget and barefeet or just wear it as a beanie!! Many colour options available. Please specify your preferred colour in the 'Note to Seller' at the checkout.
A$
15.00
Bright Baby Bilum
A family sized, colourful and functional accessory. Traditionally they are used for carrying babies but they also make excellent beach bags and come in an array of colours. Made from hand twisted acrylic, they are expandable to fit everything you need for a day at the beach. There are many colour combinations available. Please specify your preferred colours in the Note to Seller section when finalizing your purchase at the Checkout and we will do our best to find the closest match.
A$
40.00
Coloured Purse Bilum
Made of hand twisted acrylic. A medium sized bag suitable for everyday use. There are many colours available. Please specify your preferred colours in the Note to Seller section when finalizing your purchase at the Checkout and we will do our best to find the closest match.
A$
30.00
Customer Feedback
"...thank you so much for the bilums! I love mine, and it was a great gift idea - my sisters also seem happy with theirs. The rainbow colours are great - it is very stylish whether filled with swimming gear or vegetables from the market! I've used it for both and it is coping very well." Pam from Fiji.
"I've been living in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community for a few years now and am slowly building up a healthy collection of bilums. There's something quite special about utilising natural materials to make functional items for ourselves. Your bilums are of beautiful quality, I know that the craftswomen are being paid fairly for their work and they're very reasonably priced. Thank you!!" Deborah from Cape York.
Aussie Partners
Baptist World Aid Australia are the Australian partners for the Baptist Union of PNG with whom we work.
Follow this link to find more projects needing your support. From Child Sponsorship to Community Development projects, your small contribution will make a world of difference.
Follow this link to find more projects needing your support. From Child Sponsorship to Community Development projects, your small contribution will make a world of difference.