Our company vision is to provide employment opportunities for people living in Cape Town, South Africa. The majority of our employees were disadvantaged during Apartheid in South Africa and it is our goal to create an environment that is empowering and equipping for all.
While the socio-economic climate in South Africa has gradually improved over the last 14 years and a new black middle class has emerged, the issue of poverty remains and affects many South Africans as well as refugees. Crime, drug abuse, prostitution and malnutrition are prevalent in South Africa, particularly in the townships or informal settlements. However, the arts and crafts industry in South Africa provides an important gateway through which low-skilled, previously disadvantaged people living in South Africa can enter the job market.
A significant amount of progress has already been made in this respect in South Africa. The following websites provide more information about projects/ businesses that are creating employment within the arts and crafts sector in South Africa.
www.capecraftanddesignorg.za: The Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI) was set up in 2001 to grow and develop the craft sector in the Western Cape, South Africa
www.monkeybiz.co.za: Monkeybiz supplies glass beads to women in the townships of Cape Town, who then create hand-beaded artworks to sell.
www.streetwires.co.za: Streetwires employ over 100 wire artists in Cape
Town and Johannesburg who handcraft wire creations for local and international markets
www.wolanani.co.za: Wola Nani provides employment opportunities for HIV positive women living in Cape Town. A variety of crafts are produced for the Wola Nani craft shop in Observatory, Cape Town
Like these businesses/organisations, we are passionate about South Africa and want to contribute towards the country’s growth and economic development.
By achieving excellence in design, production and the management and development of our people, the business will grow and Umtha will continue to achieve its vision of making a difference in South Africa. We want our customers to enjoy Umtha’s innovative, quality jewellery with the knowledge that they are helping to build the new South African economy from the grass-roots up.
