Zimbabwe

Joseph Ndava

Joseph Ndava, community leader in Hopley Farm, Zimbabwe

At 54, Joseph Ndava didn't think he had much more to learn. A five-day workshop changed his mind.

Joseph currently lives in Hopley Farm, a settlement in Zimbabwe home to displaced people of many different political and social backgrounds, including survivors and perpetrators of violent conflict and people living with AIDS.

hopley farm leatherworkers

Hopley Leatherworks group displaying products they made during training. Proceeds from sale of products in markets will be used to buy more materials.

On Hopley Farm, a settlement for displaced people outside of Harare, Zimbabwe, a group of new leatherworkers are celebrating their first business milestone: After just a three-week training course, they sold $64 dollars’ worth of sandals, school shoes, and satchels that they had made by hand.

“Satchels were most on demand than other products,” says group member Hosea Nyamadzawo.

Leatherworker in Zimbabwe

Once Farai Gonzo and Jennifer Kazingo, participants of AFSC’s livelihoods project, learned how to construct bed and door frames from steel, the two women realized there was “no time to sit back”—their new skills could help them rebuild their lives and the lives of their neighbors.

Blacksmithing in Action!!

Patricia Zeka demonstrates the use of a 4 pound sledge hammer whilst, trainer, Edwin Mpandawana assists. She is one of the four women who constitute the 'Pisa Pisa' welding and blacksmithing group which is part of the livelihoods programme in Hatcliffe Extension, Zimbabwe.

Iron and fire are normally left for men to work at to produce hoes, shovels, axes, window frames, door frames, and wheelbarrows; traditionally this trade is out-of-bounds for women.

After all, they say, women do not have the muscle: tender and soft they are made only to love and care.

Rebuilding livelihoods

Residents of Hatcliffe Extension in Harare display their handmade goods.

Fabric of hope

The residents of Hatcliffe Extension in Harare create tie-dyed and batiked clothing in rich jewel tones and craft shoes and other leather goods.  As they do, they begin to restore their livelihoods and move away from dependence on international aid organizations.

In 2008, the American Friends Service Committee began to work with Silveira House, Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau, and other non-governmental organizations to improve the living standard of 1,200 vulnerable households in the Hatcliffe Extension area.