Supporting our Community

Our six full-time beading ladies earn the money to feed, clothe and educate their children. Each is paid for every item they make, and payment is guaranteed whether or not that item is sold.

In teaching beading skills we are helping these African women to help themselves. We are always proud to promote the skills and stories of the people who make our products, and we feel it is equally important to inform our customers and supporters about the progress, achievements, failures and results for those people in Africa.

Click here to read more about the Yakanaka Ladies

The Gomo Tailors

Shame & Shepard Gomo work in this very small buliding making the Organza Bags we sell our Yakanaka products in.

In Shame's words ...

"They supply us with constant money which allows us to continue to make school uniforms for the children in my area. And we can make clothes for the people of my area. Lucy has supplied us with materials to help us with these projects at times. She has also paid for the farm orphans clothes to be made."

Sponsoring Melu

In February 2006, we became co-sponsors of Melu, an 11-month-old orphaned baby elephant. Our money goes towards Melu’s milk, equipment, clothing and wages for her keepers, anti-poaching equipment and additional staff for the Mavurandonmha Wilderness Conservation Trust.

The latest news of Melu, June 2007 is that she is off her milk and now gathers all her nutrients from the wild bush. Her keepers are having to walk up to 40km's a day to keep up with her! She is doing well and absolutely adores attention and a good rub down. Her recovery & hard work from her care takers is remarkable. Her best friend is Whisky the pig – who accompanies her most places – but with her recently longer walks Whisky has taken to wallowing in the Dam waiting for Melu to return then joining her up to the ‘stables’ for a leisurely evening walk.

Picture of Melu modelling one of Yakanaka’s pieces!

To find out more visit the newsletters at : http://www.vardensafaris.com/

Our Packaging

Our packing is imported from StreetWise Abantu, an organisation of residents from the Harare Central Hospital’s psychiatric unit. Each person in the project has been living on the streets or is struggling with psychiatric disorders. Making our bags provides them with a dignified way of earning a living. 

See – www.streetwise-abantu.com