Recognising the talent that was so abundant among the participants of this project, funding to purchase equipment and the erection of the building that they use was provided by the Provincial Department of Agriculture.
The project was started in 2001 by a number of Pedi speaking traditional women who wanted to instil the Pedi culture into the youth of today. These young people are trained on how to design and produce calabashes and candles and they have full skills and certificates from training institutes qualifying them to do the work. They have already had much success in marketing and selling their products, and are invited to participate at various exhibitions in and around the area.
Feeling that they needed to expand their horizons quite extensively, they purchased a sewing machine and an over locker and started producing other cultural items i.e. cushions with cultural themes on them, and are presently undergoing training on the painting of fabrics. This too, has proved very popular, and they have already produced and sold many of the items that they have produced.
The group is kept constantly busy, and they operate in their workshop form 08:00 to 16:00 every weekday and from 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays.
Products for sale:
- Calabashes;
- Dresses;
- Candles;
- Beadwork;
- Glass items;
- Earrings
- Necklaces; and
- Bracelets.
This participant is a member of the Africa Craft Trust.
