SWAN Hill may be more than 8000km from Bangladesh, but that hasn’t stopped a local group taking its concerns over the working conditions of women in that country to a national level.
For more than 50 years, women of Swan Hill have been a part of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) group — an international non-government organisation aimed at improving women’s equality across the world.
Following the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, the group began researching conditions for women working in the garment industry — and found that similar issues occurred world wide.
“We took a resolution to BPW Australia national conference last year about the garment industry and how women at the local level can work to help women in Bangladesh who are working in sweatshop conditions,” BPW Swan Hill president Anne Daniel said.
The group are in the process of developing a tool kit to equip Australian women to make informed decisions about the clothes they buy and the effects those choices have.
It is intended to be distributed to BPW groups across the nation.
Meeting on a monthly basis, the local group of 15 women are involved in a number of activities.
“It is a mixed bag of networking with other women and advocating for women and girls,” Ms Daniel said.
“We can be involved in local issues that affect women and then can take that to BPW Australia and beyond that to the international level.
“We welcome any women who really want to join a group that advocates for women, provides opportunities for networking and want to have a say about women’s issues.
“Our view is that we want women to achieve to the best of their abilities.”
Although the group is not working on one specific issue at the moment, childcare and sexual violence are community issues the group has highlighted.
Last month, guest speaker Mayase Jere — 2013 winner of the Young BPW Award — inspired the group with her own personal story.
A member of BPW Melbourne North West, she moved to Australia in 2004 from Zambia.
She said the group empowered women of all ages to initiate change, discuss ideas and network.
“The synergy and knowledge transfer between younger and older women is what is needed for innovation in all industries,” Ms Jere said.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to be inspired to do more for yourself and others.
“Being part of a community of women working to end gender inequality is not just empowering women of today but giving future generations of women the vision to do and be whoever they want to be.
“Let us acknowledge each others differences and use our strengths to inspire each other for greatness.”
The group usually meets on the second Wednesday of every month.
For more information email bpwswanhill@gmail.com or call Anne Daniel on 0409 961 852.
