Our Skills Capacity Building Portfolio is centred on training for placement, or a clearly identified entrepreneurial opportunity or access to markets.
One of the initiatives within the portfolio is the Product-2-Market programme. The main aim of this programme is to help organisations focusing on “arts and crafts” to access viable markets, in so doing helping to preserve our national heritage.
Projects include:
Legends
Legends is an exciting national initiative aimed at helping predominantly struggling rural arts and crafts projects to become sustainable businesses. Training and assistance is provided for the design and production of dynamic and marketable products through product and business skills training.
Khumbulani Crafts
Khumbulani Craft was established to contribute towards poverty alleviation through the design, production, marketing and sale of traditional and contemporary craft. Khumbulani Craft is currently working with approximately 350 crafters in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The Craft workers are not employed by Khumbulani Craft. They are, commissioned to fill orders once they have been trained and mentored.
Umcebo Trust
Following their successful show at the 08 Design Indaba, Umcebo Trust was commissioned by Malan and Associates, to produce beadwork for the new National Library in Pretoria, which they had built and were decorating. Given the scale of the building, these were enormous pieces which tested Umcebo’s skills to new heights. They have produced giant beaded aloes, trees, animals and all the national symbols.
As if this challenge is not enough, Umcebo Trust is building the world’s tallest beaded tree. The tree will consist of 4m high stainless steel and 10 000 beaded leaves. The final tree will be studded with LED lighting. It will eventually weigh ten tons and tour to events like Design Indaba and Chelsea Flower Show and submitted to the Guinness World Record Authorities as the world’s largest beaded sculpture.
Bethesda Foundation
Bethesda Foundation provides training and employment to predominantly unemployed people at Nieu-Bethesda outside Graaff-Reinet.
Other significant projects are:
- Dreamfields – a community development initiative conceptualised by John Pearlman. The focus of the project is about using the opportunity of 2010 to build and restore soccer fields, distribute dream kits/bags and create enterprise opportunities around soccer fields targeting underprivileged communities and schools.
- Zeekoevlei Yacht Sailing – Builds on the successful exploits of the Shosholoza sailing team by introducing children from previously disadvantaged communities on the banks of the Zeekoevlei and Cape Flats in the Western Cape to the world-renowned sport of sailing.
- Makhaya Ntini Academy – an initiative through which the South African cricket hero, Makhaya Ntini, in partnership with Old Mutual, is able to introduce his love of the game to children from his province, the Eastern Cape, and provide the opportunity for gifted players to one day represent their country.