Mobile Technology for Craft Enterprise Development
Th Africa Craft Trust is excited to announce that the Ford Foundation will be funding Phase 1 of their Mobile Technology for Craft Enterprise Development progra in 2011. The exciting and innovative program will utilize mobile technologies and ICT's to grow the business of rural based craft entrepreneurs in three provinces(Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal) over the next 2 years.
It will do so by:
- Increasing the visibility of craft enterprises to markets through using information and communication technologies and other tools;
- Increasing craft enterprises' business and technological skills and knowledge;
- Increasing craft enterprises access to tailored mobile business solutions;
- Connecting craft enterprises with a supportive information network that increases their access to information and opportunities.
We believe that this effort has broad potential worldwide and plan on scaling it up regionally in Africa after the initial 2 year program.
"The cell phone is the single most transformative technology for development."
Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University economist and emerging markets expert.
The program will be implemanted by The Africa Craft Trust partnering with Women's Net(technology NGO) and Open Africa(tourism NGO).
South African Exhibit to a Global Audience
As hundreds of thousands of soccer fans swept into South Africa, making it an international destination for the 2010 World Cup virtually overnight, another transformation was underway this summer at Aid to Artisans South Africa offices.
Against a backdrop of freshly gleaming white walls, wooden shelves, and pedestals installed in four rooms, ATASA Trust Trust headquaters hosted the South Africa Handcraft Exhibition, featuring the Women of the Ndebele of Nkagela and their visual art, sculpture, beadwork, basketwork, wood carving, decor items, handwoven mohair and wool products.
The month-long selling exhibition of artists featured the noted artist Esther Mahlangu, alongside the South African handcraft and Ndebele art developed by crafters participating in ATASA Trust's initiatives. The participants included 12 craft enterprises, predominantly women-owned and run, based in rural Eastern Cape, Kwazulu Natal and Lesotho.
A global audience visited the exhibition, viewing slides of crafters and videos of Ndebele women, and buying
South African handcraft and Ndebele art, including beaded vuvuzelas, beaded soccer balls, jewelery, and wall hangings. All proceeds of the sale, which raised nearly R40,000 returned to the artisans who produced the items.
