Wild Coast, Port St Johns, Lusikisiki, Mthatha
Funded by the Kellogg Foundation, The Africa Craft Trust (as Aid to Artisans South Africa Trust) worked to maximize the potential for success of the South African craft sector through collaborative efforts linked to exchange and networking between craft value chain players, including stimulating and strengthening local leadership and entrepreneurship at the private and public level in order to support and enhance craft business viability.
Building upon Kellogg's other work in the zoom site of the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, the Trust focused on strengthening rural craft business capacities in the areas of Mthatha, Port St. Johns, and Lusikisiki..
Key activities included: assessments of the Kellogg zoom sites, product development workshops, entrepreneur mentoring program, participation in NYIGF, Decorex, SARCDA, Santa Fe Folk Art Market, and Design Indaba trade shows, targeted buyer trips, the Africa Market Readiness Program, tailored business and production workshops, costing and pricing training, participation in the New York Market Readiness Program, retail exhibition management,
ATA worked with a total of 15 artisan groups during the life of this project in South Africa, representing 221 throughout the duration of the program, and approximately 1500 to 2000 indirect beneficiaries. The enterprises involved in the program experienced significant increases in sales and orders with more than one quarter experiencing an increase of 50% or greater increase in sales. Total sales generated by the businesses throughout the project duration was nearly 1.8 million rand, and the enterprises continue to make sales today.
"I can afford to buy tools and clothes because of this business. I can also travel and see relatives"
"Before I could only afford cabbage, now I can buy meat. It used to be only once a week I could afford to buy meat"
-Smart, Manyano
"I thank ATASA even if I don't have a lot of money, but my life is better. My peers smoke dagha and drugs, and I sit here and do work and give money to my mother and am independent"
- Makhosi, Nonhlopeko
"ATASA must not go. ATASA helps us greatly by increasing our orders and sales. We want to increase our relationship. We love them"
Nolita - Masande
