Bra lady wants your unwanted bras

Got any bras you no longer want? Give them to Sue Sidik. She's the Singapore co-ordinator for the Uplift Project, which recycles used, pre-loved or unwanted bras to underprivileged women in third-world countries.

Ms Sidik, 38, is the Singapore co-ordinator for the Uplift Project, a movement that recycles new, use and pre-loved bras.

The mother of two collects donated bras and sends them to various NGOs and support groups.

They are then distributed to underprivileged women and young girls in disadvantaged communities.

"They are all donations from women from all walks of life, I get bras from companies also. They give us bras that they can no longer wear because of sizes, or they buy new bras and these are their old collection.

"Sometimes I feel very honoured, in a way, that they go out of the way to buy new bras just to donate for other women in other parts of the world.

"But it's not necessary to buy I can tell you that, as long as you don't use it anymore and it's in your cupboard, you can donate those."

When Ms Sidik receives a package of donated bras, she sorts them out one by one according to the band size, and checks that they are in good condition.

"There are some women in some parts of the world, they can't afford to buy bras. Because they deal on a daily basis (with) bread-and-butter issues.

"So whatever money they have, they use it to buy food instead. Because things like bras are considered luxury items.

"If they come by, they are normally very expensive. So they would be without bras instead."

Ms Sidik makes sure the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) she gives the bras to are legitimate, and the bras are not misused.

The bras are also sent to NGOs which help victims of sex-trafficking, and those that offer help to children and teenagers.

"We accept all sizes, but the ones that we don't accept are the ones that are not practical. Meaning that they are too see-through, very lacy, or a bit too risque.

"(Or) unusable, because of the band being too loose, or too dirty.

"We also don't accept bras that are strapless."

Ms Sidik collects panties too, but only new ones.

Volunteers appreciated

Said Ms Sidik: "I do appreciate volunteers who can come forward and help sort out (the donations), once in a while, if they can.

"And of course, we need a lot of help in shipping funds, because that will really help us keep things moving, coming in and going out, as quickly as possible.

"The director of this NGO, she told me that when she grew up, she didn't have a bra.

"And when she went to school, she joined some sports activities, and the boys would make fun of her.

"So she has gone through that and knows that many women go through that on a daily basis.

"So these bras not only help them give dignity, but also to help them go through life every day going to work, going out in public, without feeling self-conscious."

"It's something that we take for granted, but it means much more to them than something basic to us."

Ms Sidik sends out a shipment of about 200 bras each month, which is sometimes financed by donors and sponsors.

The next shipment is headed to Kenya.

Uplift Singapore will be collecting used or unwanted bras at an organised swap meet to be held at SCAPE in July.

For more information, go to https://upliftbrasinsingapore.org or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UpliftSingapore

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