Belmont Community Project Awarded internationally

05 May '11

2 min read

In 2007, the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Resource Centre of WA Inc. (TCFWA) and Belmont BEC along with the Business and Professional Womens Clubs of Belmont (BPW) started the TCF Ormoc (Philippines) Community Sewing Project together with the support of the Matilda Bay Rotary Club and BPW Clubs throughout WA.

The initiative has recently been awarded the International Business and Professional Women's Club 3rd prize globally in the “Make A Difference” Awards - Excellent Project. Carol Hanlon, founder of the project and President of Belmont BPW will travel to the official awards presentation in Helsinki in June 2011 to receive the Award.

The TCF Ormoc community sewing project in conjunction with numerous NGO's based in Ormoc assists the local residents in the surrounding villages of Leyte Province, Philippines to establish their own micro sewing businesses to produce adults' and childrens' clothing, uniforms and home wares.

The project facilitates the collection of donated equipment and ships them via container to the 29 sewing centres established in community village centres across Ormoc. To date 2 container loads of items have been shipped with over 280 sewing machines, fabric and haberdashery being sent to the region.

In addition to providing sewing equipment to the Community Sewing Centres, the project also facilitates free training with volunteers delivering training in small business skills, fashion design and patternmaking that assists participants to start a business and earn a living. Modelling training has also been coordinated for over 200 local students over past years. Carol Hanlon travels to Ormoc annually to volunteer and assist in staging the Ormoc Fashion Festival now in its 3rd year, deliver workshops and visit the TCF Ormoc village sewing centres.

Carol Hanlon, CEO of TCF WA, Belmont BEC and the TCF Ormoc Project said, “As founder of the Ormoc Community Sewing Project I am thrilled to receive third place in the world for this special initiative”.

The project team including founder Carol Hanlon is currently busy collecting for the 3rd container, and has recently secured some sponsored space to house the donated goods prior to shipment in Belmont. Business owner Steve Rose of Flashpan Mobile Truck Wash in Fairbrother Street kindly responded to a call out from the project in late 2010 for space, and has agreed to become a storage point for goods prior to shipment.

It is hoped that the next shipment will be ready by July.

Textile, Clothing and Footwear Resource Centre of WA Inc (TCFWA)

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