Lucky Sipaji - Mamelani launches its income generating project
Most of the women attending Mamelani's workshops are unemployed and the need to
include income generating activities in the programme have become clear. The first
initiative comes in the form of a recycling project where three ladies are
turning boxes such as cereal boxes and tetrapak containers into wallets that
look beautiful, work well and last long.
Omo boxes, romany cream boxes, Liqui fruit, you name it! These boxes are being
carefully hand crafted into stylish practical wallets at Mamelani as part of an
income generating Christmas project.
The wallets are meant to be functional and fun, whether the wallet is made from a milk carton or a tea box, most importantly, they are meant to
make us think about our waste in a new way. We want the wallets to promote the
idea that what one considers to be waste can be turned into something useful.
Also, the fact that the wallets have been made from recycled materials will
hopefully remind us to reflect on our consumption patterns and encourage less
wasteful lifestyles.
There has been an exciting response from individuals and organizations,
inspired both by the creative aspect and the recycling aspect of the project.
Currently the project is focusing on the Christmas sales but the ladies
involved intend to take it further in the new year, finding new innovative ways
of giving your rubbish a make-over. Let us turn your waste into a “Lucky Sipaji”
(Isipaji meaning wallet in isiXhosa).You ask, whats lucky about our wallets… buy one and you’ll see!
If anyone would like to collaborate, we are collecting boxes and taking orders.
We also need a sewing machine to see us into the new year.
contact Catherine on
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for more info.
Jabulisiwe, Catherine and Pelokazi - the creators of these beautiful wallets!
