The Mat that
Holds us
Development
A Story of Weaving, Wisdom, and Women’s Reslience
In a small woven house in the village of Nokuku, under the dappled light of a thatched roof, a mother sits with calm focus. Her hands, steady and weathered by years of care, move methodically across dried pandanus leaves. Strand by strand, she weaves a mat; not just any mat, but one carrying the quiet power of survival, skill, and sacred knowledge.
For generations, this knowledge has passed from mother to daughter, from grandmother to granddaughter. In her community, weaving is not just a cultural art, it is a livelihood, a way to support her children’s education, to buy essentials during hard times, and to contribute to the welfare of others through the markets.
Through the SHAPE programme, this mother and others in her village have been supported to strengthen their traditional crafts as a pathway to income resilience. Training in sustainable material sourcing, fair pricing, and access to local and regional markets has helped revive an economy that honours culture and empowers women.
“This mat will feed my children,” Magi says softly. “But it also reminds me who I am.”
Each mat she sells is a story; a story of patience, of heritage, of women holding their families together stitch by stitch. It is a solution grown from within the community, drawing on ancestral strengths to meet modern-day challenges.
Why it matters:
· Income Resilience: Weaving provides flexible, sustainable income, particularly for women with limited access to formal employment.
· Cultural Continuity: Traditional weaving practices are preserved and revitalised, ensuring knowledge is passed down.
· Community Strengthening: Increased household income reduces financial strain and improves well-being across the village.
· Empowerment: Women like Magi are not just caregivers; they are entrepreneurs, teachers, and guardians of tradition.
In every mat, there is a pattern of hope, woven with love, lived experience, and legacy. It is women like Magi who embody the true spirit of SHAPE: sustainable, empowerment, and led by those who know their land, their needs, and their own power best.