Frequently Asked Questions

What about Timor Leste?

We are advised by the Alola foundation that women in Timor Leste do not need bras.
To assist women in Timor Leste, please go to  www.alolafoundation.org 

Does Uplift know about the Guiness Book Of Records Longest Line of Bras Attempt?

This is occurring through the McGrath Foundation and Citizens Who Care . We have been in touch with Rob Bauer, the organiser, since June 2007. Some of our Queensland collections are participating in this event before going offshore. After the event we expect to receive a proportion of the bras (there should be lots because the current record is 111km).

ABC - Shed sought to house record-length bra chain
ABC - Join together for a good cause

But if they've never had bras before, why do they want them now?

In some countries fabric is freely available, and traditional support methods are in use. Traditional dress codes however change with cultural influences. Our great-grandmothers didn't have bras, but we are not going to give ours up!

What else is needed besides bras?

• The Fijian Women's Society Na I Soqosoqo Vamkamarama I Taukei distribute donated items, click for more info on Soqosoqo Vamkamarama 
• Rotary Australia World Community Service also provide used footwear for disadvantaged Fijians, click for more info on Working Barefoot 
• Australian volunteer coordinators for NT and SA
• Overseas volunteer coordinators in the USA and the UK.

How are bras distributed in PNG?

In PNG the YWCA National Office is co-ordinating distribution within the existing networks such as the Literary Project and the Adolescent Peer Education Project.

 Letter from PNG YWCA (PDF) 
 PNG 2008 YWCA report 

Wouldn't it be better to start local production than ship bras in?

Bras are very complex garments, 14 pieces each and several different types of fabric, notions (clips, rings underwires), and edging involved. The fabrics can be hard to source. They are very time consuming to construct. A further consideration with bras is the sizing. There are 8 back sizes, each needing to be produced in 3-4 cup sizes to cover the majority of the population. Our estimates for Fiji (where bras are manufactured for Australia) and PNG are that were bras made there and people paid a reasonable wage, the village women could not afford to buy them. If there's a way of getting around that set of problems,it'd be wonderful.

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