“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”

Nolwandle Crafts follows the principles of this well know and much used old proverb. The project was initiated by Dyer Island Cruises, Marine Dynamics and Grootbos Foundation with the purpose of empowering women in Masakhane Township by teaching them the skills needed for cloth painting, beadwork and sewing. The women have to buy their materials from the project stock, and can then sell them to the tourists that are brought to the factory by Grootbos and other tour operators. The profits are their livelihood, and the skills theirs, forever.

The initial funding the project was gained from the British High Commission, which was used to pay the skill teachers. The premises was a vacant building before and the municipality kindly gave permission for the venture to use it.

In addition to the craft training, the women are also given other life skills such as basic tuition in business skills, book keeping and literacy in English.

Nolwandle is an extremely worthwhile project and a true example of the commitment of those organisations supporting it to the theme of Responsible Tourism.