Bairo Pite Clinic and Rotary Dili - a great mix

We have been excited that Rotary Dili was inspired to purchase 100 MHM packs to pass on to Dr Dans clinic at Bairo Pite.
This week Fi, from the clinic arranged for Belekria to visit and run a small training class with some midwives, nurses and cleaners.  They will be distributing them to women when they are discharged and returning to the districts.

Emmy led the Discussion and was quite adept at explaining the benefits and use of all the packs items.

 The women were really interested, occasionally shy and giggly, especially when the underpants were pulled out :)

After Emmy had finished, 3 of them had a go at explaining what they had learned. They did really well.  Then at the end, time was given for any questions.
First Question:
"Can we buy these at the kiosk?"
Second Question:
"How much are they?"
Third Question:
"Where is your business/shop?"

The implication is that most of them want to be using them themselves.  Pretty encouraging feedback.

A new product - Health kits

Due to Demands we offer:

Womens Health Packs

 

 Belekria can supply 4 styles of health kits, a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Pack, a Mini MHM pack, a Complete Sanitation Pack and Personalised Packs.

MHM Pack

2 Regular cloth pads

1 belted cloth pad OR 1 night length pad

5 extra inserts

2 pair underpants

1 ziplock bag

4 safety pins

1 instruction pamphlet

1 medium drawstring bag

                                          $20

                                                               

Mini MHM Pack

1 standard cloth pad

1 belted cloth pad

4 extra inserts

1 pair underpants

1 ziplock bag

Instruction pamphlet

1 small drawstring bag

                                         $15

 

Complete Sanitation Pack

1 complete MHM pack (see left) +

1 additional regular cloth pad

1 toothbrush & toothpaste

1 soap & face washer

1 nail clipper & 1 file or manicure set

1 comb

1 pocket pack tissues

1 nail brush

1 large draw string bag

                                         $35

Personalised Packs

We are happy to create personalised health packs, and can also prepare other types of packs including education packs.  Contact us with your request and we can provide cost options accordingly.

Products for the International Craft Fair

Pam left me with some great ideas for new products.   Most of them designed to have embroidery.  So after she left I trialled the women who had attended her lessons and gave them some more lessons and assistance.  I then started to pay them per piece.  I drew the embroidery designs on the fabric and provided all the threads and needles.

I was really impressed with Laura's work and she kept stitching away each day for me.

I then called upon Sinta (the previous head sewer of Belekria who had to withdraw due to ill health and family issues) and she stitched the samples up very neatly, to produce these lovely bags.

 A simple shoulder bag with embroidered details.

A travel shoe bag, with appliqued/embroidered shoe designs.

Some travel tags. The other side has an acrylic window with a card for address details.

Pam instigates some embroidery...

Thanks Pam!

 While Pam was here we took the opportunity to run a few embroidery classes with a small group of neighbours.  They loved it and tried really hard.

Rosaria (13)

Laura (~19) and 8 months pregnant, proved to be the most dedicated.

Her mother, Martha had some prior experience and tended to want to do it her way instead of trying something new :)  But I think she didnt want to be outdone by her daughter so she kept trying.

 Amira was really excited to learn how to sew, and she was very neat and had a lovely eye for colour.

After Pam returned to Australia I have been giving some embroidery work to 3 of the women, and will show some examples of the finished product in a later post...

Custom clothing – your wish is my command

 
None of the women have had much previous experience with sewing clothing.  Earlier this year they developed the school skirts and then the school shirts. And of course we had the cheif’s wedding dress.  And the batik smocked dresses. … And with the amazing influx of beautiful fabrics inspiration has been bursting out of the boxes! :)
We also had some visitors in September requesting custom clothing. So they have slowly been trying more and more styles. 
 
Israel was desperate to get his dream designer pants sewn up.  And he was very proud to wear them!

Sinta and Novi work together to produce some lovely garments.  They are always improving in their shaping/cutting and finishing, although i still have “Oh Dear'” moments. ;)
It has been very exciting watching their creativity flow, and seeing their skills develop.