Strictly come belly dancing

BELLY dancer Constantina Litsa shows off a stunning saffron yellow dancing skirt made by Burmese Chin refugee women living in exile in India.

Christopher Barr, director of the Edinburgh-based Burma Direct charity, said the project, which markets clothes made by the women, allows them to learn sewing and business skills and helps them out of their dire economic plight.

"I set up the project after reading an article about Burmese refugees being in a bad way. This is a successful business model and we hope to take it and move into the north-east of India," said Mr Barr, a former Canadian Red Cross worker. We intend selling the belly dancing skirt and a range of clothing for men, women and children in the UK, but it is still (by] word of mouth."

Several million Burmese people are living in exile in neighbouring countries. The charity has been developing ways of marketing their textiles in the UK.