Yes
it's true, you
can contribute towards the transformation
of one African artisan, one family, one community and ultimately one
country at a time!
Proceeds
from sales on this site help support the individual artisans
and the wonderful outreach efforts of
the South African non-profit community development
organization,
Community Development Programme Trust (CDPT) dba Masiphane
Projects.
BACKGROUND
Masiphane is a Zulu word which
means "let us give to
one another."
Masiphane
Projects
has a mandate
to minister the love of God without reservation to the most vulnerable
and needy. We have chosen to support of one its programs, the Malibongwe Mother and Child Haven. Malibongwe means praise in Zulu. Malibongwe came into being as a response to the thousands of
vulnerable women and children living on the streets of Johannesburg or living in substandard and often dangerous
housing. Malibongwe opened in October
2007 as a
place of safety for women and children.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Malibongwe Mother
and Child Haven offers an eighteen-month intensive bridge program
between homelessness and permanent housing. Malibongwe Mother and Child Haven operates out of a large house located in southern Johannesburg. It is a residence where the women obtain the needed counseling, educational support and mentoring
needed so that they can heal and grow emotionally and spiritually.
The women receive job skills and entrepreneurial
training and assistance with
acquisition of part-time jobs. The Naitumela Art and Crafts project operates at Malibongwe. Naitumela means I'm
grateful in the Lozi language. The crafts project focuses on economic empowerment and
healing. The artisans affiliated with Malibongwe create, market and
sell jewelry, hats, handbags, art,
crafts and fabric painting in South Africa and abroad.
Additionally some of the women have accessed varsity (university) placements
and bursaries/scholarships. The overall goal is that the every woman will become independent, securing permanent jobs
and housing and successfully
maintaining their own household now and in the future. The goal also is for their
children to benefit from the strong, stable influence of adults to encourage them, provide academic
tutoring in weak areas and teach them life skills that will give them what they need to succeed in life.
We
believe that the efforts of organizations like Malibongwe along with
your purchase will contribute towards individual and societal
transformation.
Thank you for partnering with us.
