Background on Khumbulani Craft

Khumbulani Craft was established in 1999 as a Section 21 Company Not-For-Gain with the purpose of contributing towards poverty alleviation through the design, production, marketing and sale of traditional and contemporary craft.

Crafters are not employed by Khumbulani Craft. Rather, they are provided with training, materials (where necessary) and marketing assistance. We are currently assisting approximately 350 crafters in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

Background on the Hlulani project

The Hlulani Glass Bead-Making Project is situated on the16ha Hlulani Farm on the western boundary of Sabi Sand Reserve. The farm was donated by the Mackenzie family (owners of Alicecott) to the local community and has been placed in a Trust. The numerous commercial game lodges in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve generate great quantities of glass bottles.

With funding support from the Industrial Development Corporation, a group of women living in Lillydale village on the boundary of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, are being trained in recycling the available glass into beads. Mintek’s Small Scale Mining Division has developed the necessary equipment and delivered training in early 2006.

The project group are as follows:

• Junior Mashele (Treasurer)
• Jane Mathebula
• Precious Mashele
• Tertia Nkuna
• Adelina Sibuyi (Chairperson)
• Eunice Sibuyi
• Shelly Khumalo
• Dumizile Nkuna
• Cecilia Ndlovu
• Lina Mahori

It is anticipated that the resulting craft, including jewellery, will be marketed and sold to tourists in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kruger National Park (via Tiger’s Eye) and other outlets. Beads will be marketed to other craft producers in South Africa.

Funding

In April 2006 we requested support from GreaterGood South Africa for ongoing monitoring, mentoring, product development, training and marketing in respect of this project. Funds were confirmed from the South African Social Investment Exchange (SASIX) towards the end of 2006 and the first tranche of R24,175 was received on 29 November 2006.

Project activities to date

1. Training and Product Development

Successes:

• Product Developer and/or our Field Trainer met with the group every week.
• Our Field Trainer is responsible for basic business skills - an ongoing process of monitoring as well as evaluation.
• Our Product Development and Executive Director met with Mintek on 24 January 2007 to discuss and observe bead design possibilities and source materials required.

Failures:

• MINTEK did not supply the crafters with the addresses of material suppliers in good time.
• The group had enough material to start with, but is now in need of more chemicals.

Difficulties encountered:

• Group members have difficulties in communicating with possible clients.
• Some of the members are new mothers with many responsibilities.

Remedial plans or actions: Field Trainer will conduct communication techniques with possible clients through role- model exercises. Members will also construct sample charts with sizes, colours and prices of beads. We are monitoring their attendance and will recruit new members if it becomes too difficult for them to attend. Addresses were supplied during the last meeting with MINTEK and purchasing of binding material will happen soon.

2. Purchase of materials

Successes:

• Cobalt was obtained to enhance the blue colour.

3. Payment of electricity

Successes:

• We are waiting for details of electricity consumption from Hlulani Farm. Payment will only be made once we are satisfied that it is accurate.

Difficulties encountered:

• Delays

Remedial plans or actions:

• Repeated requests for the relevant information.

4. Transport

Successes:

• Transport requirements were met.

5. Marketing

Successes: Mintek has ordered as many small white recycled beads as the group can supply for a client in Australia. Exhibited samples of recycled beads in at a trade fair in Chicago, USA in November 2006.

6. Administration

Successes:

• Administration is up to date

Outline of activities scheduled for the next reporting period

• Training and product development: Product Development Workshop to be held on 20, 21, 22 February 2007
• Business Skill Workshop: to be held on 26,27,28 February
• Purchase of materials: occurred in February
• Payment of electricity: will be done as soon as information is received
• Transport: ongoing process
• Marketing: ongoing Process
• Administration: ongoing process.

We greatly appreciate the support and interest of the Social Investment Exchange – SASIX.

Jane Zimmerman Khumbulani Craft