Women earn living for first time
06.01.2010
Just before Columban, Fr Dan O’Connor returned to Pakistan in March this year, he showed me a sample of delightful wallhangings, made by poor women in Badin, Sindh Province (Pakistan). The women are skilled at handcrafts but have nowhere to sell their work. I am employed as Promotions Officer at the Catholic Development Fund in the Diocese of Christchurch and happened to be in Hokitika Parish to hear Fr Dan speak passionately about mission in Pakistan.
One of my interests is quilting and I was naturally interested. I asked to keep a wallhanging as a sample to display and agreed to let Fr Dan know how I got on. First I tried Trade Aid but they have more than enough offers of articles to sell so in July I began my campaign by sending an email with a photo to all diocesan staff and to all parishes in the Diocese, setting the price at $30. From that email, 62 orders came in which included a few from 2 parishes that put up a photo and ordersheet on their noticeboard. My parish priest, Fr Tom Power, asked me if I would like to say a few words at the end of the Masses in my parish (St Peter’s Beckenham). That gained another 70 orders. To be honest I was a little worried then as to whether so many orders could be filled by Christmas. I emailed Fr Dan and requested someone to be a quality controller as I felt it would be easy for standards to slip in their eagerness to complete the work.
I need not have worried. By October the wallhangings were completed and the parcels were being posted in batches. On checking with NZ Customs, I was told there is no duty on religious items. Fr Dan asked, did I think we could sell any more this year? I approached Mairehau Parish as I knew that was one of the parishes where Fr Dan had previously filled in while at home and the parish also has a strong mission society. Diana Clark, the parish secretary, was happy to oblige. She read out the speech and took orders, thus gaining a further 70. This brought this year’s total to approximately 210.
Two weeks ago enough wallhangings had arrived to fill Beckenham’s orders. On seeing the pile many people approached me and wanted to buy them but of course I only had enough for the orders. Since they have been distributed to various places many people have seen them and orders for next year are already coming in. Best of all I have offers from at least 3 parishes to promote the wall hangings themselves next year which is the best way of getting larger orders.
From each $30 per wallhanging, $20 goes to the women making them, approximately $4 in postage to NZ and $6 to the Columban mission. As soon as a wallhanging is completed, the woman making it is paid so a buffer needs to be held for this. The size is approximately 1 metre by ½ metre.
So what is it that makes people so keen to buy these wallhangings? They are attractive - bright in colour and hand stitched. And somehow the age old story of Jesus being born in the manger is still as endearing for Christians as it ever was. For some, supporting the Columban mission abroad is worthwhile. For me, it is also important that I can, in a small way, help a few women earn their own living for the first time in their lives so they can feed and clothe their families.
To place an order for 2010 or for inquiries please email nativitywh@xtra.co.nz
Maria Rohs
