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At the heart of our work is a commitment to empowerment and sustainable change. Beyond generating income, our initiatives foster financial independence, enhance vital skills, and address critical social needs directly within our community.
Numbers show our scale. Voices reveal our impact. These are the real stories of artisans whose lives have changed as craft became their bridge to income, confidence, and collective independence.
What started with a single bag of handwoven placemats carried to Port Moresby has grown into a platform supporting rural artisans, preserving traditional skills, creating fair income opportunities, and restoring dignity to countless families.
Through the artistry of bilums and handmade crafts, Apo Meri has become a bridge between village communities and the world, ensuring that every piece sold carries a story of resilience, culture, and hope.
This short film offers a glimpse into that journey, and into the lives forever changed through your support.
Bubu Kumex is a senior weaver, mother of seven, grandmother to 19, and great-grandmother to eight. After losing her husband in 2007, she began weaving bilums to earn her own income.
The first time she sold three bilums, she cried with joy. “I am too old now to do gardening. I depend on my children and grandchildren. If they do not give me anything, I do not ask. But now I can earn my own money, take care of myself, and not depend on anyone.”
Her story inspires others to keep working and stay independent.
When told she could one day live in an iron-roofed house if she saved her bilum earnings, Selime laughed. “But who will build my house?” she asked. “I do not have a husband or children.”
She was told she could pay the men a little or cook rice and lamb flaps for them, as is common in her village. Her face lit up. Soon after, Selime used her bilum earnings to buy her first roofing iron.
In her community, the term Gofuta refers to single men or women who often face hardship. Through bilum weaving, Selime earns her own income and keeps all of it. This independence allows her to make choices, support her community, and gain respect within her village.
Lokka and her husband, Nanato, are proud parents of six children. Both left school early and supported their family through farming and garden produce.
Through bilum weaving, Lokka saved enough to buy day-old chicks and stock feed in Goroka, starting a small poultry business. Recently, they expanded by adding four new beehives to the two they already had.
Their daughters help twist yarn so Lokka can finish more bilums. She is now teaching them to weave, helping them earn their own income and continue the family tradition.
Ten years ago, Naomi lost her husband. With three children to raise and a disability that limits the use of her right hand, every day was a test of strength. Gardening, washing, cooking; she did it all on her own.
For years, Naomi believed weaving bilums wasn’t something she could do. Then one day, she watched women in her late husband’s village earn an income through their craft. That moment changed everything. She picked up her first bilum hook and refused to give up. Slowly, stitch by stitch, Naomi learned and she began to weave not just bilums, but a new future for her family.
Today, Naomi supports her children through her craft, earning her own income and standing proud in her independence.
At Apo Meri, we’re honoured to walk alongside women like Naomi. Since 2021, we’ve supported widows, single mothers, the elderly, and women-led households with basic food supplies every quarter. This year, we introduced a program that rewards our weavers with essentials like rice, oil, and soap once they’ve sold a set number of bilums, a small token of appreciation for their hard work.
Naomi has benefited from this program on many occasions receiving 10kg rice, 5L looking oils and 6 packs of laundry soap.
Rose is a mother of three whose children loved watching movies at the local Piksa Haus, a small community cinema powered by a generator. After many late nights walking home tired, Rose saved her bilum income to buy a solar inverter, solar TV, and DVD player.
Her children now enjoy watching movies safely at home. Her story shows how creativity and perseverance can bring comfort and joy to families in remote communities.
For much of her life, Agnes lived in the humble comfort of a traditional hut. When age and weather took their toll, her home began to collapse, the posts rotted, the roof leaked, and she was left with no choice but to rely on her son for shelter.
But Agnes carried something priceless: the ancestral craft of bilum weaving. With persistent effort, she decided to rebuild her life, one stitch at a time. Every bilum she made and sold brought her closer to her goal: to stand under her own roof again.
After months of hard work and saving, Agnes achieved what once seemed impossible. She bought roofing iron and oversaw the construction of her new, sturdy home. The same bilum that carried her culture had now given her a roof over her head.
And she’s not done yet. Agnes is already saving for solar lights to brighten her home. Her story transforms the bilum from a simple craft item into a powerful symbol of self-reliance and achieved dreams.
Lucy is one of our most dedicated weavers and often brings in the highest number of bilums for sale. She used her earnings to buy a solar TV, lights, and an inverter so her family could watch TV at home instead of traveling to the Piksa Haus.
After that, Lucy continued weaving and saved enough to open a small trade store in her village. The store has been running for over a year and continues to grow.
Lucy finished school at Grade 8, and her husband did not complete school either. Through bilum weaving, they built a steady income and a better life for their family.
More than ten years ago, Hoklo left her husband and returned to her home village of Kenimaro in the Eastern Highlands. In 2023, after selling her bilums, she used her earnings to buy a young brown ewe. When it matured, it gave birth to three lambs.
Although one lamb did not survive and her neighbor’s rams were later stolen, Hoklo continues to rebuild. She now sells her remaining sheep for K1,000 each and uses her bilum income to improve her life step by step.
Whether you’re an organization, retailer, or individual supporter, share your details and how you’d like to collaborate.
Our team will review your submission and get in touch.
Have an inquiry, partnership idea, or feedback? Send us a message – our team will get back to you soon.