etwa

ETWA is a volunteer organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. We work to support East Timorese women through community oriented programs, particularly in the handcrafts industry. We aim to give women the opportunity to make real the benefits of sustainable handcrafts enterprises and through the richness of weaving, help them maintain cultural integrity.

In Australia, our members work within a Community Development framework to engage and connect with each other and the broader community. Undertaking projects such as our Weaving Tour to East Timor, our Schools Community Program or running events, we make space for creativity to help our members achieve their potential while also raising funds for and awareness about the daily struggles of East Timorese women.

We attempt to develop relationships based on reciprocity, so the things we learn from our friends in East Timor are equally as important as the gift of support we bring and this is reflected in our motto. Given opportunity to come together in community we will contribute to sustainability both in East Timor and Australia. It reflects a process where we create and seize opportunities to learn from each other; working closely and communally to enjoy the rewards that working across cultures brings. From Timorese women, we have opportunities to learn the values of kinship, patience, resourcefulness and living in unanimity with the environment. From us, Timorese women are given opportunities to extend their market reach and improve their access to things they can’t afford, maintain traditional practices and share the riches of their culture.

Current Projects:

• Design Incubators: a participatory project aimed at engaging with cultural and contemporary design processes to generate innovative product designs. Participants will gain insight into traditional tais weaving culture while helping etwa’s supported projects take a giant leap in product development in East Timor.
• Schools Program: a community education program that involves students working together on a common project to benefit both the Timorese community and the student community. The program provides a meaningful context for learning the skills that are valued in the workplace and in the broader community. We have a range of useful education reources and a dedicated etwa member will assist through the whole process.
• Business Development: a critical initiative to improve product sales; which is the lifeblood of the etwa/ CTCD relationship. As well as maintaining solidarity markets, we acknowledge that entering mainstream markets expands the customer reach of CTCD product and increases the potential for sales turnover. The program aims to connect with commercial retailers and appeal to mainstream consumers. Research shows that mainstream consumers are open to ethical consumption and that this is largely untapped in mainstream markets. For more information contact sales@etwa.org.au

Our members have many, many more ideas!  Stay tuned as the ideas develop into practical projects towards creating sustainabilty for both etwa and CTCD.

LOCATION

The Augustine Centre

2 Minona Street Hawthorn VIC 3122

PO Box 3079 Auburn VIC 3123

Ph: +61 3 9819 3239

Fax: +61 3 9819 3439

Email: office@etwa.org.au