WHAT: Provide a workshop and retail space for an established women's basket-making company in Namibia.
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| WHY: For generations, women of North-Central Namibia have woven functional baskets with great talent and artistry. In a time of worldwide cultural exchange Namibians have found an opportunity to share their craft with the rest of their country and the world. As the country addresses rapid modernization, struggles to change gender roles, and the spread of HIV, the Oshikuku Basket Project was created to utilize traditional Namibian art to economically and socially empower women.
Since June 2006, more than 1600 baskets have been sold in Namibia and the USA, for which 38 artisans have been paid. This has been done without donor funding or craft consultants. Artisans have improved the quality of their products through collaboration and encouragement from each other, and have proven their baskets can compete on domestic and international levels.
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HOW: This project will provide a workshop and retail store to the artisans, thus improving marketing ability and increasing sales. This will lead to an increase in the number of women participating while balancing quality control. The Oshikuku Village Council will donate land and the workshop will be built out of a 20 ft shipping container that will be transported from the country’s capital.
After this workshop is in place, the group will seek funding for equipment and entrepreneurial skills management trainings to ensure financial sustainability in the future.
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| EXPECTED RESULTS: The project aims to:
- Establish a workshop and retail store;
- Improve business management skills, incorporating the specialized needs of an artisan group;
- Achieve sustainable poverty reduction through the business development and commission-based sales of weavers’ baskets;
- Increase marketing and sales to enable an increase in membership while balancing quality control
General project objectives of The Oshikuku Basket Project, since its conception are to:
- Empower women: Historically, women have had little voice in relationships and family in Owambo culture. Now, more than ever, with the spread of HIV/AIDS that disempowerment is dangerous for women;
- Financially assist members and their families: The idea of "family" is growing with the increasing number of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). These children stay with extended family or friends if their parents have died or moved away; many of the Project members are caring for OVC. The women are able to purchase items for themselves, but more often choose to save the money for school fees, clothes, or other household items that will benefit the children;
- Share traditional Namibian art with the other parts of Namibia and the world: Most people outside Southern Africa know very little about Namibia. Through local tourist and global sales of these baskets not only will people understand where Namibia is located, but they will have a better understanding of history and culture of its people, and remember it with something beautiful and functional.
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