I visited the Drakensberg handicraft projects yesterday and was pleasantly surprise by the group’s commitment and enthusiasm. The groups has settled now (it’s not a situation of different people every time we meet with them) and they also formed a social support group. But I'll have to save story about the social support group for another time...

Our workshop at Ketanie takes place under this tree. This is where the skills training, quality control and buying and selling happens.

These ladies produce the embroidered blocks, which they produce at home; we pay them R4.00 per block. Their production increased from one block per week to 12 blocks per week, sometimes more, depending on the person and her situation (is she sick herself, does she care for a dying family member and the nr of children in the household). That’s why most of the ladies regard this as part time work.

We then we take the blocks to a group of seamstresses in Loskop (also in the Central Drakensberg Area). A lady named Joyce (wearing the black shirt) was trained by Department of Labour as a sewing training provider.

Unfortunately they were not able to give her any contracts. So she decided to start her own business. During January and February they get contracts from schools for school uniforms, but that is about it. Zimele’s partnership with Joyce was a great relief for her. We have just lost the material of 40 bags because they made such a bugger-up. So…no quality product, no pay. At our meeting yesterday, we talked how to improve things going forward and insisted on quality products.

This group urgently needs three electrical sewing machines, which cost about 1300 ZARs ($180) each.

Their ‘workshop’ is located in Joyce's back yard. There are no lights inside and it is tough at times with the extreme temperatures of the summer and winter.

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Here are samples of some of our bags. Absolutely beautiful!!! I ordered 30 of the red bag to sell in the USA and Canada to test the markets.

O! This bag is my favorite bag. In Pretoria, one music scholar bought a sling bag at our exhibition stall at the flea market and the next week all the other scholars of that teacher came to buy bags. I also ordered 30 of these to sell in the USA and Canada.

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This is the building in Winterton that Betta (our crafts director) is trying to rent from the municipality for R100.00 per month. The building is in a perfect condition and will only need fencing, advertising boards and basic furniture. It will be utilized as an exhibition are, packaging and may be some sewing. We are very excited!!!!

Thank you for your prayers and support for Zimele. Without you, none of this would have happen.