International award for eShowe crafters
Inina Crafters put their skilled hands to work
Lesley Stephenson
THE skills and creativity of Zululand women crafters have received international accolades.
The Inina Craft Agency, a consortium of craft producers based in eShowe, won the International Partnership Network (IPN) 2008 Global Best Award for Africa.
Inina claim top honours in the in the category 'Enabling Economic Development Through Enterprise and Livelihoods'.
This stemmed from the agency's participation in the Bracelets of Hope project, a co-operative initiative between various organisations in South Africa and Canada.
The campaign involves the making of beaded bracelets in South Africa, for sale in Canada, in aid of the HIV/AIDS Tsepong Clinic in Lesotho.
The initiative helped the clinic to become Lesotho's largest anti-retroviral treatment centre, with over 6 000 patients enrolled.
Legends
Apart from the prestigious award, Inina was also selected as one of only 10 craft organisations around the country to become part of the Legends Business Development Programme, a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) project supported by the Old Mutual Foundation.
Started in 2007, the programme draws together craft producers from community projects across South Africa into a consolidated 'product to market' solution for local handcraft.
Future planned interventions include business and systems development assistance, as well as establishing linkages with a major national retail chain.
'What excited us about Inina was the opportunity to build on an existing skills base and good infrastructure, and their potential to have an impact at a real grassroots level.
'There has always been excellent craft produced in the eShowe area, and with improved business and design skills we are confident that the project will grow from strength to strength,' said Legends Product Developer, Sivu Piliso.
History
Established in 2006 by five eShowe-based crafting organisations, Inina Craft Agency brings together over 150 members, all women, and is managed by the crafters themselves in a co-operative structure.
Products include handwoven fibre-based items made from indigenous reeds and sedges, a variety of beadwork, and handmade paper manufactured from sugar cane waste and waste paper.
'While certain products have been specifically designed for the corporate and conference market, the majority of our ranges are manufactured using traditional techniques that pay homage to the proud heritage of Zulu crafts,' said Inina Project Manager Thandazile Magubane.
To learn more about Inina Craft Agency, contact Thandazile Magubane on 035 4741466 or go to www.inina.co.za.
For more information about the Legends Programme, contact Cathy Wijnberg of Fetola Mmoho Consulting on 021 7884603.
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