In September 2021, HACT’s Woza Moya programme team’s creativity and hard work was acknowledged through yet another prestigious award which continues to uplift and empower over a thousand artists and crafters through skills development, training and income-generation. Comprising of over 200 individually handmade flowers, which represent hundreds of hours of intricate beadwork by over 70 local beaders, our Woza Moya programme team’s “Green Goddess” was selected as the winner in the 2021 Innibos National Craft Awards in the beading category.
Currently on display in our onsite Woza Moya Craft Shop, the magnificent “Green Goddess” was one of the many attractions of our team’s highly successful Bloom Where You Are Planted Flower Art Exhibition held earlier this year as Woza Moya’s Executive Manager, Paula Thomson explains; “Thanks to funding from the NAC, our team have been able to hold several successful exhibitions here in our Woza Gallery this year which have assisted us in generating much needed income for our local beaders and crafters whose ability to earn an income have been severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. We are very grateful to Innibos for bestowing this honour on our beaders, they have worked so hard and should all be very proud of themselves for this well-deserved award.”
Crafts That Uplift, Empower & Inspire
Started almost two decades ago, Woza Moya (“come spirit of change” in isiZulu) is one of HACT’s largest and most successful economic empowerment programmes which currently enables over 1500 crafters living in the Valley of 1000 Hills and surrounds to earn a sustainable living through the sale of their beautiful handmade arts and crafts.
To support our Woza Moya crafters, you can visit one of our two Woza Moya craft shops located at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (26 Old Main Road, Hillcrest) or Windermere Shopping Centre (63 Lilian Ngoyi Rd, Durban) or shop online at: www.wozamoya.co.za