Karisa Project

With no jobs, no money and no prospects, Velaphi started this project more than ten years ago so that she and others could work together to earn an income rather than turn to crime to survive.  She started alone, but has since recruited ten other people from the community to join her.  They are self financed and buy their beads from Pretoria or wherever she is able to do so.  She and the group used to sell their products in Johannesburg, but that market dried up and now they struggle to find a market as beadwork is the hobby and work of most of the ladies in the surrounding community. 

She has had some training in costing and pricing, provided by the Midveld Industrial Chamber and Advise Centre (MICAC) and she works from home as she cannot afford to rent premises.