A NEW shop owned by a group of African women who recently settled in Ballarat opened in Bridge Mall last weekend.<\/p>\n
The Women of the Well is located at 66 Bridge Mall and offers a range of jewellery, clothing, and homewares.<\/p>\n
Mary Top, one of the store\u2019s owners, said the group is thankful for the opportunity and to see the group\u2019s vision come to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese women had a big dream, they wanted to do something, they wanted to use their talents because everyone has a talent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never been to school myself so there was no language, no education there and I was not allowed to go to school where we came from, you just become a girl and become a mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is hoped the shop will create meaningful change for the women and their communities, many of whom are former refugees.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t feel sorry for our story, this is a journey that we have walked and it is about to change,\u201d said Ms Top. \u201cIt\u2019s going to change for the generations to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you can do is support us from this point in time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Top said she hopes the shop will be a place for community to come together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis space where we are standing now will be a free space where kids can run around in the back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids can come here and do their drawing and colouring and people can sit down and have their coffee and learn about what we do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not about us, it\u2019s about the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group of women met through the Brotherhood of St Lawrence\u2019s Stepping Stones program that aims to improve the financial situation of women from refugee, migrant, or asylum seeker backgrounds, and their opportunities for success.<\/p>\n
The Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre delivered the program and sought to provide a safe environment for the women that undertook the course, including offering free childcare and business mentors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe programs aim is to work to address barriers against women in particular and those financial and economic barriers,\u201d said Julie Ware, chief services officer at the Brotherhood of St Lawrence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the women here have shown, however, Stepping Stones can really become a community within the broader Ballarat community and each group becomes an extended family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program is funded by the State Government and has supported nearly 2000 women since 2011.<\/p>\n
Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, was at the opening of The Women of the Well to celebrate the achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here as the result of so many good people breaking down barriers, demystifying cultures and bringing us all together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a celebration of culture, heritage, empowerment and the spirit of entrepreneurship.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW shop owned by a group of African women who recently settled in Ballarat opened in Bridge Mall last weekend. The Women of the Well is located at 66 Bridge Mall and offers a range of jewellery, clothing, and homewares. Mary Top, one of the store\u2019s owners, said the group is thankful for the […]<\/p>\n