Reports
Khumbulani Craft Progress Report
January 17, 2008
Khumbulani Craft: Training, marketing and product development for Hlulani Glass Bead-Making project in Mpumalanga
“In terms of the problems this project aimed to address – recycling of waste material and income generation – both are being achieved and it is expected that the impact will increase over time..”
Regular visits by Khumbulani Craft field trainers to the members of the Hlulani glass bead-making project will upgrade their business skills and assist with product development and marketing, consolidating the project into a viable and sustainable business to ensure an ongoing source of income for local women.
Impact
10 female craft workers from the Hlulani glass bead-making project have received business training in quality control, costing and pricing, and basic bookkeeping. Weekly visits by Khumbulani Craft’s field staff have helped improve the quality of the beads produced and have ensured that each crafter has understood and is able to apply the business skills that have been learned.
Activities
a. Product development
As indicated in the previous report, the new members in the group are learning rapidly from the older members. Attendance is very good and orders are increasing. The group was monitored by the Product Developer on 4 May, 9 May, 14 June and 13 July. SASIX’s photographer, Simone Scholtz, visited the project on 18 June 2007 and she was introduced to the group members and also visited their homes and communities
The crafters are currently very busy producing beads for 14 curtains ordered for a lodge in Mozambique. They received the order from the client after a sample was approved by the client. Fourteen curtains will use 16,044 produced beads. The crafters will also use natural pods among the beads. The group was assisted with the design of the curtains and quality of the beads was monitored. The group is still experimenting with the application of under glazes to the beads. The application of color brings more variety than the original white, blue and light green.
The crafters also produced beads to be used in newly designed bracelets and necklaces. There was a concern that the holes were too small, but the crafters are using a thicker wire to improve the size of the holes. They also discard the old wire after a month. The electricity supply to the farm was normal with not so many power failures as the previous times. Crafters are constantly reminded to adhere to safety procedures, continuous communication if there are any concerns or uncertainties and practical usage of materials to limit excess cost. Ms Adeline Mabunda is monitoring the quality of the completed beads.
The crafters produced beads which were on show at the One of a Kind exhibition (part of Decorex) in August 2007. The beads were strung in a frame for decorative purposes. The beads will also be applied to traditional Zulu pots produced by groups in KwaZulu Natal.
b. Small business skills training
Three modules - quality control, costing and pricing, and basic bookkeeping - were presented during the reporting period on 2 May, 28 May, 6 June and 26 June 2007 by Khumbulani Craft field trainer, Mandla Nkoana. Following the training, the crafters were able to determine accurate and fair selling prices and generate their own invoices.
c. Operation of the project
The following areas of the project have been implemented and are ongoing: * Materials have been purchased and continue to be purchased as required. Power supply has been constant with no problems experienced during the reporting period. Transport has been arranged as necessary to meet the project’s needs. Marketing and sales activities are being undertaken. Administration activities are ongoing.
d. Key Milestones in Client Orders
| Date | Client | Description |
| May 2007 | iZarte Galerie (The Netherlands) | Janneke confirmed her order which included 10 sets of spectacle strands made with the recycled glass beads. |
| May 2007 | Private client | The client ordered a variety of recycled beads, including some Hlulani recycled beads, to make up a special beaded curtain in her home. |
| June 2007 | GDF Design Lab (Johannesburg) | At the end of April we delivered the sample shower curtain for the Mozambique lodge that the designers are decorating. In June the designers ordered 14 sets of the beaded shower curtains for end of July delivery. |
| June 2007 | Design Afrika (Cape Town) | Binky Newman ordered white medium recycled glass beads via Mintek. We have sent her 700 beads & await her go-ahead to produce more. She wanted to view the quality before placing further orders. |
| July 2007 | Dial-a-Surprize | Sue Van Wyk contacted us in early July urgently requiring a lanyard that, if approved, would be used for a photo shoot for the Dunhill magazine that was focusing on “green” & recycled products as its monthly theme. |
An estimate of the above sales: R 23 964.00 excl VAT
Expenditure
The cost of the project is R96 700, of which R72,525 has been paid with the balance due to be paid in August 2007.
| Activity | Actual expend. (1st tranche) | Actual expend. (2ndtranche) | Budgeted (3rd tranche) | Actual expend. (3rd tranche) | Total expend. as of 31 July 2007 | Projected expend. for next period |
| Training and product development | 8,750.00 | 8,750 | 8,750.00 | 8,750.00 | 26,250.00 | 8,750.00 |
| Materials | 514.42 | 375 | 375 | 0 | 889.42 | 375 |
| Electricity | 0 | 582.86 | 600 | 308 | 890.86 | 600 |
| Transport | 8,500.00 | 8,500.00 | 8,500.00 | 8,500.00 | 25,500.00 | 8,500.00 |
| Marketing | 3,750.00 | 3,750.00 | 3,750.00 | 3,750.00 | 11,250.00 | 3,750.00 |
| Admin/overheads | 2,151.44 | 2,158.00 | 2,200.00 | 2,130.80 | 6,440.24 | 2,200.00 |
| TOTALS | 23,665.86 | 24,115.86 | 24,175.00 | 23,438.80 | 71,220.52 | 24,175.00 |
Challenges
Challenges experienced during previous reporting periods have been addressed with no new problems experienced. However, transport remains a major constraint and will only be improved once infrastructure in rural areas is improved.
Monitoring and evaluation
Khumbulani Craft’s field staff, Laurette van Zyl and Mandla Nkoana, monitor progress on a weekly basis by assessing each individual’s progress, quality and understanding and implementation of small business skills transferred.
Conclusions
In terms of the problems this project aimed to address – recycling of waste material and income generation – both are being achieved and it is expected that the impact will increase over time. Orders for the beads are slowly increasing and it is hoped that additional techniques to embellish the beads and product development will lead to increased sales. Weekly visits to the project have helped improve the quality of the beads and the women have demonstrated significant progress in improving the quality of the products that they produce.
Khumbulani Craft’s ultimate objective is to assist the group to become a small, sustainable and independent enterprise. The extent of their assistance will be assessed on an annual basis but is it likely that we will be involved for at least 3 years.