At Greater Action, a non-profit organisation, refugees are giving old ethnic clothing a second life by transforming it into bags, cushion covers, bedsheets and more. And the best part is, all proceeds from sales go towards their livelihoods.
The NGO, co-founded by Julie Das, aims to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, especially refugees and asylum seekers from different parts of the world.
“Your preloved clothes could help send a refugee to school or even put a meal on their table,” Das tells FMT.
“We hope to help them in terms of education and healthcare, and also by providing jobs for them to sustain themselves.”
The refugees – who largely hail from Afghanistan as well as Myanmar – have been trained to sew home essentials and accessories, from bedspreads and masks to bags for school, work, and everyday use.
These and more are sold from as low as RM15 at Greater Action’s centre in Ampang, Selangor. Preloved clothing and fabric – ethnic or otherwise – can be dropped off there or delivered, to ensure the artisans can continue making new products.
“Our tailoring project is actually one of our biggest as it is supporting up to 250 families,” Das shares. “They initially started by sewing dresses, including for weddings, but these are now made upon request only.”
Apart from equipping them with practical skills, Greater Action aims to improve the refugees’ interactions with customers and overall communication in their daily lives.
“We want to help them be confident when they go to the doctor or speak with police officers,” she explains.
In addition, the Afghan refugees have received training to become chefs and bakers under the Greater Action Culinary programme, which aims to create home-based jobs so they are financially independent.
The women can now prepare exquisite Afghan food, catering for individuals as well as larger gatherings and corporate events, and are adept at whipping up delicious cakes, pastries and goodies.
“We always try to build on their existing skills, be it sewing or cooking,” Das says, adding that she hopes the artisans will be able to sell their goods at bazaars in the near future.
Greater Action always welcomes volunteers and financial contributions, information about which can be found on its website.
“We hope that, through our efforts, we will be able to empower more refugees by providing them the opportunity to improve their lives,” Das concludes.
Head on down to Greater Action’s centre to buy exquisite handmade goods or to drop off your preloved clothes.
To learn more, visit its website or its Facebook and Instagram profiles. You can also order delicious Afghan food by clicking here.
Greater Action
1B, Jalan Wawasan 2/8,
Bandar Baru Ampang,
68000 Ampang, Selangor
Business hours: 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on Saturday and Sunday)