Overview:
Duniya Behter reimagined the narrative around people with migrant and refugee backgrounds, celebrating their capabilities and creativity. Women and young people in Bendigo and Shepparton drew from their cultural roots to launch creative businesses and produce digital works that highlighted their talent and resilience. The name, Duniya, meaning "a better world" in Arabic, Hindi, Swahili, Hazaragi, Urdu, and Persian languages, emerged through conversations with young cultural facilitators, reflecting the program’s vision of collaboration and empowerment.
Running from June 2021 to April 2022, during a time of heightened racism fueled by the Covid pandemic, the project worked closely with Point of Difference Studios in Shepparton. It provided meaningful employment for six young people under 25, welcomed five new staff members, and connected participants with two artistic mentors. Through the initiative, 30 women established 15 creative and cultural businesses with training in business skills and online marketing. Meanwhile, 55 young people from CALD communities participated in creative digital workshops, culminating in 21 outstanding commissioned works.
Digital Commissions:
A call-out was made to the creative youths (15 - 30 years old) of Bendigo and Shepparton region to commission videos, reels, podcasts, music, spoken word, visual art, creative writing or poetry that answered to the provocations:
What does creating a better world look like to you?
How do you get inspiration from your cultural roots to deal with challenges?
Your experience during COVID and what you have done to adapt to changing times?
What is the future change you want to see in the world?
View the digital exhibition below:
Amber Chong
A Feminine Conversation
Podcast
2022
Aroha Pehi
Breathe
Poetry and dance on film
2022
Aryo Hall and Shirin Shakhesi
Dancing with your Childhood
Animation and original soundtrack
2022
Jai Atkinson
Trapped
Music
2022
Jay Pops
Listen
Spoken Word
2022
Jonathan Safari
Voice (Dream)
Original song
2022
Kazadi Kadima
Scoot
Short Documentary Film
2022
Lah Eh Soe
My Love
Original song
2022
Melissa Moo
The Climb
Animation
2022
Mercan Kasikci
My Hero
Illustration
2022
Nadia and Yvette Niyubushobozi
Friendship Facts
Podcast
2022
Nargis Alsakir
LONE
Poetic Documentary Film
2022
Nesian Blue
Can We Talk
Original song
2022
Po Tu Tu
Karen Traditional Weaving
Short Documentary Film
2022
Shanikwa
Window Seat
Original Song
2022
Tha Shee
Circle of Life
Film
2022
Zakir Hussain
Sar Zameen e Man
Illustrations and original composition
2022
Launching women-led businesses:
Following a series of workshops designed to build and resource capacity in entrepreneurial skills, 30 women from the Bendigo or Shepparton region were involved in establishing the following 15 creative and cultural businesses:
Bangladeshi Shaad by Kaberi Jesmin
Bangladeshi Shaad, which translates to Bangladeshi Taste, was founded by Kaberi Jesmin in 2021. Passionate about sharing the tastes of her homeland, Kaberi uses her cooking to bring people together and celebrate Bangladeshi culture.
Kaberi was catering just for friends and family, when an invitation to cook biryani at an event for 50 people motivated her to start her own business. Since then, she has catered for community celebrations and organisations, including Neighbourhood Collective Australia and Regional Victorians of Colour.
Kaberi offers event-catering and cooking demonstrations across the Bendigo region, for foods like chai, biryani and Bangladeshi snacks.
Belle Fleur Mira by Mireille Byamasu
Belle Fleur Mira was founded by Mireille Byamasu in 2021, after years of struggling to find gentle, locally made products that support the health of natural African hair.
With most African hair products imported from America or Africa, Mireille’s mission is two-fold: to promote the beauty of natural hair and to create locally made products that are readily accessible and safe for children and adults alike.
In doing so, Mireille hopes to encourage other retailers to stock products that work with African hair.
Diäär Kuo Dinka Crafts
Diäär Kuo, meaning ‘our women’, is a collective of South Sudanese women who, together, use traditional beadwork and coil weaving to create home décor, jewellery, and clothing.
The group first began working together in 2018, inspired by a weaving workshop facilitated by community leader and expert weaver, Mary Anwat.
For Diäär Kuo, women’s weaving circles represent an opportunity to create a stronger community and to learn and to share evolving handicraft methods across generations, both young and old.
BIBI ZAHRA by Bibi Zahra Gawhari
Prolific in practice, Bibi Zahra is skilled in sewing, crocheting, and knitting. Under her eponymously titled label, Bibi Zahra infuses contemporary garments and footwear with traditional techniques.
Bibi Zahra started her business in Afghanistan, where she created hats and beanies, before moving onto crocheted jackets for weddings. Banned from using electricity in her former hometown, she would often close the doors and windows to secretly sew long into the night.
Since moving to Australia, she has expanded her range to include embroidered pillowcases, tablecloths and bed covers and is looking to produce hand-embroidered sandals in 2022.
Freaka Kid Club by Ayuen Kuol Bol
Freaka Kid Club is an emerging fashion label from Bendigo-based designer, Ayuen Kuol Bol. Kenya-born and Melbourne-raised, Ayuen uses weaving, beading, and digital printing techniques in a style that links her Dinka heritage and contemporary style.
Named in remembrance of her childhood, Freaka Kid Club not only charts Ayuen’s creative journey but is also intended to model a pathway for other young South Sudanese people seeking creative careers. Freaka Kid Club aims to be a platform for collaboration with other South Sudanese artists and designers, with an online shop planned in the future.
Goulburn Valley Seniors Association Incorporated
Self-described 'Seniors in Action', the Goulburn Valley Seniors Association Incorporated (GVSAI) is a group of women from migrant backgrounds who come together to connect and create.
From hand woven bags to propagating exotic plants, the diversity of the group's products reflects that of its members. After decades supporting their families mostly through orchard and factory work, the GVSAI allows its members the opportunity to delve more deeply into their crafts and to reconnect with their cultural identities.
GVSAI has members across Goulburn Valley, with plans to take their unique offerings to communities and speciality markets across the region.
Hoku Tonga by Kalina Muli
Community, culture and care are at the heart of Hoku Tonga, an emerging retail business from Shepparton-based Kalina Muli.
Away from her family in Tonga and extended community in New Zealand, Kalina's business was born from the need to access koloa (Tongan treasures) for her personal fatongia (responsibilities). Recognising there would be other community members in a similar situation, she began making and importing koloa and now also imports materials for the Tongan community to make their own.
Kalina is in the process of setting up an online store to retail her koloa across Australia and internationally.
Karen Lady Catering by Paw Kee
An entrepreneurial spirit and passion for the traditional flavours of Karen cooking led Paw Kee to establish Karen Lady Catering in 2019.
Paw Kee began her business selling lunches to students and teachers at TAFE which, due to demand, quickly evolved into a highly sought-after catering enterprise. She has gone on to cater for the City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, Castlemaine State Festival, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee and the Neighbourhood Collective Australia.
Paw Kee offers event-catering across the Bendigo region and since 2020, has cooked over 600 meals for Cafes for COVID, an initiative that pays local businesses to cook meals for people in need.
Malieta Gifts by Ane Fotu
Malieta Gifts was established in 2021 by aspiring entrepreneur and online gifting enthusiast, Shepparton-based Ane Fotu.
Having purchased online gift boxes for friends and family during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Ane noticed a gap in the market for Pacific Island products and set up her business to share her Tongan culture with a broader audience.
Together with one or two locally made items, Ane’s gift packs include products made in the Pacific Islands along with explanations of their provenance.
Naya Ruon by artist Akuek Deng
Akuek Deng is a South-Sudanese-born and Central Victorian-based artist who is painting under the name Naya Ruon.
The emerging creative seeks to capture hidden depths, seamlessly blending brushstrokes with fluid pouring techniques to create a contemporary take on portraiture. Naya Ruon uses acrylic and oil paints featuring vibrantly, bright colours with a resin finish to create organic, abstract paintings and portraits that explore themes of culture and actualise the connection between human emotion and Earth’s natural wonders.
Pawmosha by Paw Kyi Pai and Mu Moo
Pawmosha was founded by Paw Kyi Pai and Mu Moo to reenergise the practice of traditional Karen hand-weaving in Bendigo.
Using a traditional backstrap floor loom, the group creates wraps, bags, and scarves, as well as Karen clothing. They also host regular workshops with both the Karen and broader communities to teach these skills and to pass on this important traditional knowledge on to the next generation.
Shukria Kheradyar by artist Shukria Kheradyar
As a self-taught painter and illustrator, Shukria Kheradyar uses her practice to express her creative and cultural identity. Limited hand mobility led her to explore painting as an alternative to Afghan hand stitching and since 2018, she has developed her skills through photographic references and watching online videos.
Resonating with the work of Rubaba Muhammedi, a partially paralysed young Afghan artist, Shukria seeks to suffuse meaning into her practice. She is currently working on a series of paintings that depict the atrocities currently being experienced in Afghanistan, with plans to exhibit and sell these pieces in support of the Hazara community.
TŠ LUXURIÔUS COUTURE by Temi Adenubi
Under the label Tš Luxuriôus Couture, Nigerian-born Temi Adenubi uses high-quality African print fabrics to produce custom casual, corporate, and special occasion wear.
The idea for Tš Luxuriôus Couture emerged after Temi hosted a fashion show at the 2021 A Taste of African Culture event in Shepparton. For Temi, Tš Luxuriôus Couture is an opportunity to introduce elements of Nigerian culture to the broader Australian community, and to create a culturally inclusive and diverse brand from the outset.
Umojo Empowerment Group by Francine Furaha and Muisha Sarah
Umoja was founded by two friends Francine Furaha and Muisha Sarah.
Francine and Sarah have sold their products in festivals, markets and events. They have also started reaching out to the women in their community helping them start their own businesses and empowering them where possible.
“We are very colourful people, since migrating here to Australia we quickly noticed the lack of cultural clothing especially African. We order our fabric from Africa because it’s full of vibrant colours and our traditional designs. We then make bags and clothing out of it. Since joining this program it has allowed us to source more resources and gave us the tools needed to pursue our business ideas. It was during the program that we made the decision to merge our businesses and work together. Now we sell matching outfits and bags.”
Duniya Behter is supported by the Victorian Government through the Priority Response to Multicultural Communities during Coronavirus (PRMC) program. Duniya Behter is delivered in partnership with Point of Difference Studios.
