Ni-Van Tailoring- Sharing for Blessing

 Heather Vanua is a powerhouse of hope.

I recently met her at one of her fabric printing and pattern designing workshops in Madang and she's the kind of woman you meet and feel genuine passion ooze from her to give.

In this age of 'small to medium enterprises', the boom means many small local businesses have the huge challenge of continually reinventing themselves to be fresh, to trend and all to continue to sell and make money.

So who is daring enough to share their business plans and ideas with another. Heather Vanua, that's who.

She says she's been in tailoring industry awhile now and the idea to step back and allow for others to get onboard although a spur of the moment thing, is now something that's her biggest achievement.

"Every time I see a fellow sister hug me and smile and tell me she is thankful, my heart is full."

It started out as a business strategy to stay above water but quickly turned into passion and so much satisfaction. Like at this workshop, we've three people who've come from Wewak to participate coz we've no plans to go there just yet. Honestly that type of hunger just drives me. If woman want it, who am I to stop it. And I'm including a few extra skills in this Madang workshop because of their determination."

The workshops invite people of all walks of life, including men, who pay a fee to learn fabric printing, tie dye, design patterns and more for use in the MSME sector.

"It's a K395 fee for a weeklong workshop to learn all this but honestly, you can make that back in a day compared to the knowledge you gain for life,"- Rhonda Clement, participant.

Ni-Van Tailoring and Designs has run similar workshops in Tabubil, Alotau, Lae and Kokopo and after Madang, are headed to Vanimo.

"Taim mipla harim lo workshop, mama tok yupla bai go na lainim. Mi hamas tru long kam. Bai mipla lainim on meri lo community blong mipla taim mipla go bek,"- Tania Kwaingu.

Heather says while she enjoys the current arrangement, she is open to partner with others like her to take life skills to communities that request it throughout Papua New Guinea.

It's knowledge that can lift and empower another and I will continue to do this till whenever- seeing that smile, the look of amazement and hope is all that this is about.

The week long workshop was held in mid October in Madang, at the Country Women's Association headquarter.

You can check out Heather's page Ni-Van Tailoring on Facebook to get the latest on this project https://www.facebook.com/nivantailoring/

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