Craft and Skills Development Centre

There are a large proportion of unskilled adults in South Africa and therefore limited work opportunities, which has resulted in a 25% unemployment rate and 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 problem 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 1 April 2006. The centre trains unemployed people crafts, such as beading, sewing and weaving so that they can create beautiful original jewellery, cushions, clothes, accessories and a variety of other items to sell. The range changes frequently and once an individual has become sufficiently skilled they are encouraged to use their craft to express their individuality to make unique products and sign each piece.

The emphasis 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, by not only providing skills training but also providing outlets for the products so that we can then place orders with the skilled individuals we’ve trained in the area.

We also appeal to existing crafters to make use of this unique service. The Craft and Skills Development centre is a partner for anyone who manufactures any craft, by providing them with skilled individuals that they can contract to manufacture items in 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 access to acquire a skill and then with an opportunity to earn a living through using that skill, we participate 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 skills or financial assistance, please do get in touch by calling +27 (0) 22 492 2851 and ask for Lauren Human or by emailing info@thedarlingtrust.org.