A group of five people making and selling colourful beadwork and beaded clothing in the township hopes to soon have a place to sell their wares in town, where they hope to expand their market.
A group of five people making and selling colourful beadwork and beaded clothing in the township hopes to soon have a place to sell their wares in town, where they hope to expand their market.
The Mzamomhle project, founded to create work for unemployed women and minimise their dependence on social grants, specialises in beadwork and traditional wear for women.
Project manager and social worker Zukiswa Ralo said the group had dwindled from its original 10 members, because their sales – which happened once a month at the social grant payout point – were minimal. The project is based at the department of social development in Joza.
Ralo said the government had funded training for the project's members at the Nomakwezi’s Craft Centre in Port Elizabeth. They're confident of the quality of what they produce and say now they want to reach out and attract more customers. Ralo said municipal officials had promised them a place to sell their products, but they were still waiting. “The small project that we started is to show our independence and skill through doing something we love,” Ralo said.
