Creating new opportunities for migrant and refugee women through Live Your Dream

Komatsu's Kalpana Raj has turned her passion for women's empowerment into meaningful support for SisterWorks, a Melbourne-based social enterprise helping women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds build skills, find employment and become financially independent.

Komatsu's Live Your Dream program gives employees the chance to support a charity or organisation of their choice with a $10,000 donation. Kalpana was one of this year’s lucky recipients and chose to support SisterWorks as their work resonates strongly with her own experiences as a migrant woman.

“I have seen firsthand the challenges of navigating unfamiliar systems, overcoming barriers and building a sense of belonging,” Kalpana says.

“These experiences have shaped my commitment to community care, women's empowerment and advocating for equitable access to opportunities.”

In August, Kalpana visited SisterWorks to see how the organisation is helping women overcome these challenges and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.

Accompanied by SisterWorks Head of Impact Eva Forman, Kalpana toured the Dandenong Empowerment Hub, where women can access practical workshops, skills development and community support to help them prepare for employment.

The visit continued at the Springvale Manufacturing Hub, where SisterWorks partners with organisations including Yarra Trams, L'Oréal and Richmond Football Club to transform discarded textiles into sustainable products, creating employment opportunities for women while reducing waste.

The day concluded at Crafted Culture, SisterWorks' social enterprise café in Carlton, where Kalpana presented Komatsu's donation to support the organisation's skills development programs.

SisterWorks CEO Ifrin Fittock and Eva Forman welcomed the contribution, which will help address growing demand for the programs, with many women currently on waiting lists.

The value of this support extends beyond the programs themselves. SisterWorks' 2022 Social Return on Investment analysis found that every $1 invested in the organisation generates $4.30 in social and economic value.

Kalpana says the visit was an opportunity to see the difference that access to training, employment and a supportive community can make.

“SisterWorks demonstrates how social enterprise can create meaningful, lasting change by empowering women and strengthening communities,” she says.

“It was great to be able to contribute to this work and see how SisterWorks is helping women overcome barriers and create new opportunities for themselves.”

The visit has also opened the door to further collaboration, with Komatsu exploring opportunities to connect women supported by SisterWorks with potential employment pathways within the business.