Boera, Central Province, Papua New Guinea
The Boera Tailoring Hub was officially launched on Friday, 14th March 2025, marking a transformative milestone in community development and skills empowerment. This significant event celebrated the graduation of forty participants from Boera, Porebada, Rearea, and Papa, who successfully completed the Trainer of Trainers (TOT) Tailoring and Design Training.
The Boera Tailoring Hub is the realization of a long-cherished vision that originated from the first ExxonMobil-funded training conducted by Diari Tailoring in partnership with Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network (APNGWLN )in 2017.
This vision has now come to fruition through dedicated partnerships and unwavering community support. In that initial training, an unused sewing machine—dormant for 18 years—was restored under the expert guidance of facilitator Kofe Ibu, a local technical specialist from Kutubu. The training equipped 40 participants with essential skills in tailoring and sewing machine maintenance. One notable participant, Saini Seidi from Papa village, leveraged her newfound expertise in manual sewing machine maintenance to earn recognition as a local sewing machine mechanic, assisting community members with repairs and maintenance.
Following the early successes, Laba Holdings placed their corporate wear order through Diari Tailoring, which was soon followed by an order for 11,000 face masks for schools in LNG project-impacted areas of Central and Hela provinces in 2020, facilitated by APNGWLN. With additional support from Niu Power, another 40 participants underwent TOT training under the guidance of Doreka Dai of Diari Tailoring, bringing the total number of skilled sewers to 80—each holding onto the vision of one day establishing their own clothing factory.
Doreka Dai, founder of Diari Tailoring, highlighted the pressing need for advanced sewing skills within the community, stating, “As a parent, I have witnessed the financial burden of purchasing school uniforms, with some families struggling to afford more than K100 per child each year. This challenge fueled my determination to seek support from ExxonMobil to empower more women with tailoring skills.” ExxonMobil PNG, through its Village Liaison Officers (VLOs), recognized this need and provided crucial backing to make this initiative a reality.
APNGWLN takes immense pride in its members—women of exceptional talent, passion, and expertise in tailoring, sewing, and fashion design—who have collaborated to turn the vision of a garment factory into a reality. The collective efforts of Helen Firmin, who generously donated two industrial sewing machines, Doreka Dai, who continues to provide training for aspiring tailors, and Elizabeth Omeri of Denani Designs, who led the 1-month Advanced Tailoring and Design Training, have been instrumental in this achievement.
Under the expert guidance of Elizabeth Omeri and Doreka Dai, the 40 participants mastered critical skills such as fabric printing, body measurements, pattern drafting, and the sewing of school uniforms and formal wear—bringing the total number of trained tailors in plant site communities to 120. A notable development is the inclusion of young male participants in this initiative, reinforcing the inclusivity and sustainability of the training program. With this skilled workforce already in place, the LNG plant site villages are well-positioned to establish and sustain a thriving clothing factory.
ExxonMobil PNG remains a pivotal partner in this endeavor, consistently championing women as key contributors to community development. Through its commitment to Global Women in Management (GWIM) trainings and broader project area initiatives, ExxonMobil PNG continues to demonstrate corporate leadership in grassroots empowerment. Their sponsorship of the 1-month training, along with the provision of 20 sewing machines and 4 overlockers, has been instrumental in advancing the Boera Tailoring Hub and paving the way for the establishment of a garment factory.
This facility is poised to address local needs by producing school uniforms for village schools, thereby reducing reliance on urban suppliers and mitigating associated security concerns and shortages.
APNGWLN extends its sincere gratitude to ExxonMobil PNG for its unwavering support, the National Gaming Control Board for funding the new motor for the industrial machine, and to key members, including Doreka Dai, Elizabeth Omeri, and Helen Firmin, whose contributions have been invaluable. Special recognition is given to the resilient women of Boera, Porebada, Rearea, and Papa, who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the vision of establishing a clothing factory. Additionally, APNGWLN acknowledges the families of all participants—especially the husbands of the 120 seamstresses and the two male participants—for their steadfast encouragement and support.
The establishment and success of the Boera Tailoring Hub stand as a testament to the power of collaboration, resilience, and community-driven development. This initiative not only empowers individuals but also fosters economic growth and self-reliance within local communities. As Papua New Guinea approaches its 50th independence anniversary, the LNG Plant Site villages are prepared to take a significant step towards true independence—sewing their own school uniforms and strengthening their local economy. APNGWLN and ExxonMobil PNG support the call by the women on leaders and stakeholder partners to invest in this journey and help turn the dream of a thriving clothing factory into a reality.
