Fine mat weaving is intrinsic to Samoan culture.
A measina, or cultural treasure, the art of weaving fine mats was in danger of disappearing due to
modernisation, commercialisation and the cash economy.
On this International Women’s Day, we highlight the important work of organisations such as WIBDI
that supports the economic empowerment of women, working together with women in
communities to preserve this measina while also providing them with the opportunity to generate
an income.
With the desire to preserve the traditional practice of weaving and to support Samoan women,
Women in Business Development (WIBDI) developed its fine mats program which partners with
women in communities to not only preserve this artwork, but to ensure it can be sustained by
providing women with financial support.
Australia, along with other development partners, recognise the importance of this program to
lifting women’s social and economic wellbeing and are working together with WIBDI to deliver this
inclusive initiative. While development partners provide WIBDI with support to facilitate the
program, WIBDI in turn finds sponsors to connect with the weavers.
WIBDI facilitates contracts between sponsors and weavers that takes into account weavers cultural
and family obligations. Under these contracts, the weavers receive a wage over the course of the
year, rather than on the completion of the fine mat. In addition, weavers are provided with basic
lessons in financial literacy as well as supported with opening their own bank accounts. The team at
WIBDI says that under the program, some weavers have had their fine mats sponsored for over 10
years.
Every two weeks, WIBDI sends field teams across Samoa to connect with local weavers to inspect
their progress, traditionally measuring the woven fine mats by hand span and recording the
increases in length. Based on their progress, the initiative pays producers on behalf of the sponsors.
For women with disabilities like Elu Taei from Tapuelele, fine mat weaving has been a source of
confidence and financial independence. "I have completed and sold four mats, which helped me
build our fale. I’m now onto my fifth mat,” she says.
WIBDI field team members Marie Enosa and Melissa Leota work closely with weavers including
women with disabilities. Marie, who does not have a disability but knows sign language, and
Melissa, who is hard of hearing, have worked together to bridge the gap between WIBDI and the
women with disabilities to ensure they can also take part in the program.
Melissa’s work is informed by her own experiences where she struggled to understand and
communicate with other people. “Disability should not be a barrier to opportunities. Everyone

deserves the chance to pursue their passions and contribute their talents to the world,” says
Melissa.
Marie was inspired to learn sign language while she was a teacher’s aid with SENESE. She saw the
barriers that children with disabilities often faced to engaging effectively with their communities and
wanted to learn sign language to be able to communicate with them. “Sign language is a small but
meaningful way to connect with our people with disabilities, particularly those who are hard of
hearing, and that’s why I was passionate to learn and become a sign language interpreter,” says
Marie.
Marie and Melissa were part of the WIBDI team that recently facilitated a weaving training session in
Savai’i specifically for women with disabilities. This forms an important part of WIBDI’s efforts, their
unwavering commitment to building an inclusive work environment that promotes career pathways
for people with disabilities.
As we mark International Women’s Day, we recognise the important work that organisations such as
WIBD, ensuring all have an opportunity to thrive. Australia is pleased to support this important work
through the Australia Volunteers Program and its Tautua Partnership with the Government of
Samoa.