This is the easiest, and most expensive way of getting bras to the recipients. Per bra it is 10 times the cost of shipping, but it allows us to get small quantities into places we can't ship to.
If you are outside Australia/NZ with a small number of bras to send, it is better to post direct to the receiving country than to Australia. Tonga & Fiji need the large sizes, PNG and Vanuatu the smaller.
If you do post bras, please send an email to tell us, so we can add to our stats!
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The Fijian Women's Society Soqosoqo Vakamarama i Taukei PO Box 505 Nabua Suva Fiji Islands |
YWCA of PNG National Office Attn: Lorraine Siraba P O Box 5884 BOROKO PAPUA NEW GUINEA |
Vanuatu Red Cross Society PO Box 618 Rue de Bretagne Port Vila Vanuatu |
Sione Taumoefolau Secretary General Tonga Red Cross Society PO Box 456 Nuku'alofa Tonga |
Mrs P Solomona c/- P.O. Box 571 Rarotonga Cook Islands |
Liz Baker, 9 Steven St, Hurstbridge, Vic 3099
South Morang Chiropractic, 82 Reid Street, South Morang VIC 3752
Are you travelling to one of our recipient countries?
It is often possible to carry in a small quantity (less than 50) bras to give away. Swimwear is also much appreciated in coastal and river areas.
Be aware that carrying a commercial quantity of bras in may attract the attention of Customs. Underwires show on x-ray. In Fiji for example the import duty is about 10 cents per garment, so no great impost on your holiday budget. Often if you make it clear these are a gift, and not for sale you will not be charged.
The easiest way to hand them over is to find a local person or member of resort staff you like, and quietly ask "Would these be helpful for your family?" Be aware that resort staff may be searched before leaving work, and you may have to explain to management that this is in fact a gift. On occasion bras have been left with resort management the donor felt comfortable with to distribute among staff.
Uplift's donations are usually distributed among the more isolated and poorer areas of a country, and often don't get to those fortunate enough to hold jobs in the tourism industry. These women all have the same problems obtaining bras as the rest of the country though.
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Shipping requires both knowledge and coordination to work. Pallet load or whole containers may be sent. If consigning large collections by ship, please contactfor consignment details, documentation requirements and coordination.
As illustrated below, many people handle a shipment, and they must all be informed of the situation. In cases where shipping is donated, or where Rotary clubs receive shipments and then pass them on to distributing organisations, this courtesy is particularly important.
Manifest lists must be accurate. The list of goods included in a shipment must be accurate. This includes the item count. Uplift can advise on the value of bras to be declared. It is important not to include goods not permitted into the receiving country, as this will slow down release of the entire shipment.
Consignment details are specific to the port concerned. Uplift may not have receivers in every port in a country.
There are costs payable at both ends, and some of our receiver's can't meet these costs. The total of the Fiji end charges alone on a container going to Fiji in 2009 are around $A800.00. These charges are usually paid by the organisation receiving the container, and are not necessarily included in the quoted price of shipping at the sending end.
Uplift's receivers may have limited storage and not be able to handle several large consignments from different places at the one time.
While shipments may be consigned to non-Uplift receivers, beware of the need for import duty exemptions, experience in receiving, accurate documentation and fumigation. If goods get stuck in customs, storage fees apply by the day, and goods may ultimately be forfeited to the government for sale to cover costs.
Uplift's bit: sort bras, pack, seal & label boxes, transport boxes to where container is packed, provide necessary documents and ensure receiving organisation/s know what's coming.
Sending country Shipper's bit: Next pack the container, move container to port, load onto ship. Move ship!
Receiving Country Shipping agent's bit: Land ship in overseas country, unload container, clear bras through customs, be assessed for duty, container moved to the handling agent's yard, sometimes fumigated and usually opened for inspection.
Each of these steps in the overseas country has an associated charge and each place where such a procedure takes place charges a storage charge.
Uplift's Receiver's bit: Once cleared, and the charges paid, the stock is released to Uplift's receiving organisation. They have to truck it to their local storage, which needs to be secure, and then on to the final distribution point.
There a organisations in other parts of the world that have objectives similar to Uplift!. Sending bras to them will save on both postage and the carbon footprint of transport.
UK www.breasttalk.co.uk/bra-appeal
US www.brarecycling.com