The Women Behind Qweens: Weaving Independence & Empowerment
At the heart of Qweens are the hands that weave—strong, skilled, and resilient.
Our weavers come from diverse backgrounds but share a common thread: the
determination to create a better life for themselves and their families.
Qweens currently works with women from three communities in Goroka district
in the Eastern Highlands Province. Many of these women are widowed, single
mothers, uneducated, or unemployed often facing limited opportunities to earn
a living. Yet, they possess an invaluable skill—the traditional art of bilum
weaving.
By partnering with Qweens, these women have transformed their craft into a
source of empowerment. Each bilum they create carries a story of resilience,
independence, and cultural heritage. The income they earn from their work
provides not just financial relief but also a sense of dignity and purpose. Through
weaving, they are rewriting their futures—one bilum at a time.
Bilum for Solar Project: Weaving Light and Hope
The Bilum for Solar Project was created with a simple yet meaningful goal—to help
rural women access a basic necessity: light. Through this initiative, Qweens has
distributed small portable solar lights to over 20 women across three communities.
For many of these women, traditional bilum weaving is their primary source of
income, yet electricity remains a luxury beyond their reach. By providing solar lights,
we have not only brightened their homes but also improved their daily lives—
allowing them to care for their families, feel safer at night, and continue their craft
even after sunset.
Through their weaving, these women didn’t just create art—they earned a source of
light that illuminates both their homes and their futures.
