Who Are We?
After eight years of ministry and travel
between the USA and
Africa we moved to South Africa in 2005. We came to South
Africa with the promise of Rehoboth,
like the story in the book of Genesis 26:22-23, about Isaac reopening
Abraham’s
wells.
He [Isaac] moved on from there
and dug another well,
and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth [meaning "space" or
"room"], saying, "Now the LORD has given us
room and we will flourish in the land."
An outgrowth of our
call has been the creation of this e-business, African-art-and-crafts.com. Because we are passionate about the
transformation of Africa
we have purposely set up this business as
a social
enterprise. Ours is a for-profit
business
with a social conscience which is faith-based.
Rehoboth is not just our
story but also the story of the lives of many of the artists and crafts
people
featured on this site.
Many of these
people have faced years of hardship and
opposition, wandering and searching for a place to call home.
Yet each has
been created in
the image of God and has been given special gifts and talents
to glorify Him.
We have recently expanded to include an initiative called Kopano. Kopano means coming together or unity.
Across South
Africa poor women have been trained in art, crafts and sewing but the doors are locked preventing them from entering the
marketplace. Kopano wants to change that!
Our passion is to see poor women mobilized and empowered! Not alone but in community.
With over twenty years retail experience we work with South African business and organizations to give women
the keys which will unlock those doors.
We work with people, like us, who desire to see lives transformed
socially, economically and spiritually.
We have seen the difference
that our efforts have made in lives of many,
encouraging them to hope in God and to work for a brighter future.
We
believe Rehoboth is a promise for them as well.
There is a proverb which states that “a three strand cord is
not easily broken.” There is strength in numbers, so we invite women to come together
in groups of two or three to form Kopano partnerships.
They learn critical skills such as how to start and grow a business, how to create
marketable product and as important they acquire life skills.
Previously denied access but now they have access global and local markets. Their goods are now available to thousands who visit this website each month.
We assist in locating funders so that the dream of operating their own business can become
a reality. We provide a network for our Kopano Partnerships where business
support and savings clubs or Stokvels are formed to aide in sustainability.
We believe that within a few years there will be hundreds of successful Kopano
partners, online or operating a Kiosk or a Store!
We will need funding to make this a reality thank you for joining us in
growing this exciting enterprise. Thank you for your purchase!
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