Today marks the 43rd day of our lockdown in South Africa, which has seen restrictions starting to be eased at the beginning of this week moving from level 5 down to level 4. One of the best descriptions I have heard as a mother, wife and businesswomen at this time is that you are \”not working from home, but you are at home, during a crisis, trying to work.\”
We have used every opportunity to stay engaged online, keeping updated on government regulations, funding and relief schemes available for small and medium businesses, maintaining contact with both our crafters and customers as well as keeping informed regarding industry recovery plans. With international borders in most countries closed and imposed travel restrictions affecting Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Events (MICE) – we are putting emphasis to understand how we navigate the virtual space, build on existing relationships and extend our online presence.
One of the ways we have done so is through our online listing with PEEK – which is a South African Handmade Collection developed in partnership with the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) and the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD). We are also working to see how we can use our experience and skills to offer new services.
One of the things which covid-19 has highlighted for many is the socio-economic gap in provision and access to services between rural and urban communities. We hope that this is an area that will receive attention in the coming months and are positioning ourselves to continue to assist the local communities we work with to make a difference in their lives. One of the ways we did so earlier this year was highlighting how the inclusion of local communities and small businesses in procurement decisions creates social sustainability.
May we stay positive, focus on the good and continue to encourage and support one another – especially small businesses. Happy Mothers Day to all the moms – visit our website for your gift requirements and we\’ll be in touch regarding delivery.
Till next month,
Nomaswazi Tinus
Founder & Director
African Mamas Crafts
This month’s article on ‘Stories from Home’ features Lungi Mantshontsho and her group of crafters from Mathawu Pottery in OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape. The OR Tambo District is named after the late Oliver Reginald Tambo and is home to the AmaMpondo (part of Xhosa speaking) people. It is also the birthplace of other well-known
Supporting rural development through crafts Mark Twain says that the secret to getting ahead is getting started. This was our year of getting started, the year that African Mamas Crafts was birthed. Having kick-started the process by taking care of the necessary registration paperwork, we embarked on a journey to find rural crafters to work with. What
Powered & Designed by Midnight Monkey
Sign up below to be updated on all the latest News!
