In January 2016, CITW Zimbabwe facilitated a three-day craft workshop specifically aimed at women from the rural communities surrounding Ziga and Ngamo Primary Schools in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North. Ngamo Primary School hosted the event and 45 women were privileged to attend. A committee was set up to represent the ladies, and all the participants were accommodated by members who lived close by, providing cooked meals and a place to sleep each evening.
The project, funded by Grand Circle Foundation, USA and valued at US$909, taught this motivated group of women crafts including sewing, knitting, beading, crochet, batik, tie and die, weaving and basket making. Dorcus Mbedzi from “Ingonyama Crafts”, a trained facilitator on “The Financial Inclusion and Access to Finance for Women Entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe” hosted the workshop with assistance from two trainers from the Jairos Jiri Centre in Bulawayo. This fantastic initiative not only focuses on the teaching of these skills, but also included instruction and information on simple business management focusing on stocks, record keeping and pricing as well as the introduction of saving clubs all aimed at developing self-reliant women in the community to generate an income for their families therefore reducing poverty levels. A market for these products has been identified and manufacturing is well under way with sales already in progress ~ in time, we hope to have some of their beautiful merchandise for sale in Wilderness Camp Shops.
