Calling all ships to Port Moresby, Nuku'alofa and Port Vila
Does your shipping company visit Australian ports and then go to Port Moresby, Nuku'alofa or Port Vila? If so, donations of shipping services are now urgently needed to support Pacific women's health.
"We need help from shipping companies to move over 200,000 bras requested by the Red Cross and YWCA in PNG, Tonga and Vanuatu. The two organizations are also ready to offload bras when they arrive in port," said Liz Baker, National Coordinator, Project Uplift - national@upliftbras.org , 03 9718 2883.
Since 2005, thousands of Australian women have donated secondhand bras through Rotary Australia World Community Service to Project Uplift www.upliftbras.org. To date, over 60,000 bras have been received by women in developing Pacific countries."At 80 bras an apple box, even a three or four boxes can serve a lot of women," Liz said.
Project Uplift also needs local courier services from its collection points in each Australian capital city to the port in that city.
"Disadvantaged women in the third world often live without a bra. Secondhand bras are sometimes available cheaply, but are rare in larger sizes. A new bra can cost 10-30 hours' wages, beyond reach for most," said Liz.
The bras are appreciated more than Australians would expect. Rotary and Uplift receive thank you letters. YWCA PNG wrote, "Women have expressed joy and appreciation to the YWCA and Uplift Project for owning a basic necessity, which they have been without for years."
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