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Art and Craft 

The Vukuzaki women are successfully producing embroidered landscapes for export to the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK . Special thanks go to everybody who supports this group, without whom none of this would be possible.

We are so proud of the artists in this group. Their unique style and amazing creativity leave us in awe of their talents. None of the artists have had formal training, but their landscapes bring the feel of Africa alive.

Glenda Kirkiridis of Amafu Fabrics in Durban regularly donates fabric to the project. Ruth Seipp guides the women with their embroideries. Gill Shaddick of "Weaverbird" in Australia has also donated a new sewing machine, thread and material to the group and is selling the embroidery panels in Australia. Please take a look at the Weaverbird website www.weaverbird.com.au .

Sue Stephenson of "Sew Together" has donated lessons to the group, so that the embroidered landscapes can be made into bags (take a peek at our Picture Gallery to see the ladies hard at work in Sue's studio).

Anne Jenkins of "Point of Art" gallery has been making the landscapes into bags for a few years now. She is now selling the bags from her new gallery in Delaware. This part of the project is known as "The Bag of Hope". For more information please visit www.thebagofhope.com . Anne recently sold 20 bags to a Pennsylvania group. This sale was a booster for the group and helped motivate everybody involved to reach new heights.

Apart from the individuals and businesses mentioned here, we are very grateful to all of the people who donate wool and fabric to the groups and give of their expertise to teach. Our especial thanks to Tollgate Quilters in Durban who support the groups every month with donations of collected material.

Our aim is that all of our eleven support groups busy with arts and crafts projects will one day become self supporting. The road to reach this goal is paved with dedication, creativity, team spirit, and a refusal to give up no matter what the circumstances. A very wonderful by-product of the project is watching as the self esteem and confidence of the artists grow. Watch this page for future developments - exciting things are happening here.