Working together to end poverty and injustice

Traditional mat weaving projects have flourished into a new local industry.

Women in Business

Oxfam New Zealand’s partnership with Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI) began in 2001 with an income generation and microfinance project, aimed at improving livelihoods in local communities.

Traditional mat weaving projects were established, which gave women the opportunity to learn new skills, in particular business development skills, which have allowed a local industry to develop.

Several of these mat weaving projects are now entirely self reliant and are exporting their products globally.

Women in Business Development Incorporated is now working in 150 rural villages across Samoa, supporting a range of community-based projects aimed at alleviating poverty, creating sustainable village economies and revitalising the agricultural sector.

On film: watch the 2007 Campbell Live story about WIBDI's revival of fine-mat weaving

• Voices from Samoa: read Mano Lami and Fagaote Lealaiauloto's personal accounts
• Trading coconuts and going bananas
  Find out how the group has combined tradition, trade and technology and turned coconuts and bananas into a viable income for rural families.

Samoan organic farming industry

With Oxfam’s support, Women in Business Development Incorporated aims to firmly establish a Samoan Organic Farming industry, based on the principles of Fairtrade, that will provide rural families the opportunity to improve their standard of living and contribute to the development of Samoa.

Recognition as a Fairtrade body will bring prioritised access to niche international markets. This has already been obtained for 17 farms , with a further 10 farms in conversion status and 21 farms in the training stage.

• Read more about the benefits that Fairtrade can bring

Oxfam Unwrapped in Samoa

By buying a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped you can help support our work in Samoa. Take a look at Oxfam Unwrapped's gifts with a difference and help lift people out of poverty, for good.

Our partner in Samoa

Find out more about Oxfam's partner on the ground in Samoa, WIBDI.