BSL Stepping Stones participants band together to open a new store

Women of the Well, a new retail store run by a group of inspiring African women, recently opened its doors to the public in Ballarat. The store sells a diverse range of products, including jewellery, clothing, and home décor.

Women of the Well  was officially launched by the Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison MP. Our Chief Services Officer, Julie Ware spoke on behalf of BSL at the launch.

One of the store’s owners, Mary Top, expressed her gratitude to the Ballarat community for the support they have received: ‘We are thrilled to be here and grateful for the opportunity to share a piece of our culture with this beautiful city. Opening this shop has been a dream for all of us.’ 

The women met and trained through BSL’s Stepping Stones to Financial Wellbeing  program. The program provides opportunities for women from refugee, migrant and asylum-seeking backgrounds helping them to gain financial security by starting a business, finding employment, mentoring and support.   

Marta Kreiser, from BSL’s Stepping Stones, said Women of the Well was a great example of how the program helps women gain tangible business skills and confidence. She says:

Stepping Stones helps women like Mary fulfil their dreams of running their own business by providing free, tailored support and training, building confidence and business acumen. We can’t wait to see this incredible new store thrive in the Ballarat community

Funded by the Victorian Government, the Stepping Stones program has supported nearly 2000 women from diverse backgrounds since 2011. ‘The Victorian Government is proud to support the Brotherhood of St. Laurence’s Stepping Stones program, which nurtures participants’ strengths, ambitions and life experiences,’ said Juliana Addison MP. ‘It’s provided valuable microenterprise training to the women who have established Women of the Well, and I wish them every success in achieving their goals.’

For more information on the program, head to https://www.bsl.org.au/services/consulting-and-training/stepping-stones/