DANDY Makers Market - for handmade crafts and artisan foods.

The Dandy Maker’s Market (DMM) is a lifeline for newly arrived asylum seeker and refugee women to gain opportunities they may not have had in their home countries. By promoting their skills as traditional artisans of food and crafters of products, the DMM will incubate their business idea into sustainable self-employment. This will be supported with ample selling space at the Dandenong Market, mentoring through our fabulous volunteers, microfinance and business skills education. Not only will this mean they contribute socio-economically to the local community but they will be breaking down barriers to work, discrimination and creating a society.

The City of Greater Dandenong has the lowest gross weekly income in Melbourne with an average of $476 and women earning 49% less than men in paid employment. Women here make up 6 of 7 single parent households putting them at a further disadvantage in becoming financially independent and adequately settled in Australia. The DMM will address the need for sustainable employment to become financially independent, gain English language skills, relevant business skills and best of all, boost self-esteem. DMM is tailored towards the strength of the participant, making our community stronger, one stitch at a time!