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Evita's
Craft and Skills
Development Centre
Darling
Station
There is a large proportion of unskilled adults in South Africa
as well as limited employment opportunities, which has resulted in a 25%
unemployment rate and in 50% of the population living below the poverty line.
Without access to education and training it is very hard for disadvantaged
communities to break this pattern. The Darling Trust works to address this
reality by providing the local impoverished communities with an
opportunity to generate their own income through skills training.
The Darling Trust opened the Craft and Skills Development Centre
in April 2006. The centre trains unemployed people - mainly women - in
crafts such as beading,
sewing, embroidery and weaving, so that they can create beautiful original jewellery,
cushions, clothes, accessories and a variety of other items to sell. The
range of products available changes frequently and once an individuals become sufficiently
skilled, they are encouraged to use their craft skills to express their
individuality by creating unique products and by signing each piece.
We emphasise is that this is not a business but a learning centre.
Individuals receive free training and food during their training and once
they are fully trained and able to make crafts of satisfactory quality
they are then encouraged to leave the centre to work independently. This
creates a steady flow of craftspeople passing through the centre and
increases the available workforce in the community.
At The Darling Trust we want to complete the circle of development,
not only by providing skills training, but also by providing outlets for the
crafter's products. The trust then places orders with the skilled individuals
that we have trained, and sells on the items that we have contracted from
the Darling crafters.
We also appeal to existing crafters and
craft outlets to make use of our unique service.
The Craft and Skills Development centre is an ideal partner for anyone who
produces and/or markets craft items, by providing them with skilled individuals
whom they can contract to produce specific items for their catalogue. This will
enable them, as the businessperson, to take on larger orders and expand on
their operation. The Darling Trust will always facilitate the process,
which will ensure that they receive products of the highest quality.
By providing individuals with the
opportunity to acquire a skill and then, by providing outlets for these
craft products, with the means to earn a living through using that skill,
The Darling Trust participates
in the true spirit of development.
There are many more people we need to reach so that they too can
benefit from the training facilities at the Crafts and Skills Development
Centre. If you can help by providing materials, food for lunches, your
training skills or financial assistance, please do get in touch with Cher
Daniels by calling +27 (0)
22 492 2851/ 3384 or by emailing cher@thedarlingtrust.org.
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