After visiting my cousin Jonas Schumacher, the founder and managing director of masifunde in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth in December 2017 I was so impressed by their work with children and young people in the township that I wanted to implement a desire that has accompanied me since many years right here and with these people:
Passing on parts of my holistic knowledge, skills and experiences that I have developed over many years to young people. Give people the self-confidence that they have special skills and can create something valuable with their hands, for example. . . and the courage to recognise and exploit their potential.
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We wanted to use my second visit to masifunde, during which my daughter Noemi Zoé supported me, to test our first project prototype. First of all, we wanted to find out how much interest and talent young people would have when it comes to this type of handicraft in a jewellery course for young people. . . and were completely surprised by the 'drive' and the commitment of the participants.
In the final discussion after this first workshop, we then decided together: we will continue and in a brain storming session we worked out what our project should be called. Very quickly and as if it had to be that way, it became clear:
It's about working with our hands. 'Our hands' means in the isiXhosa language 'izandla zethu' - and that's how we found the name of our project.
Back in Germany, we thought about what our matching logo could look like. Jonas sent us a handprint of his son Thabo and upon closer inspection we came up with the idea of depicting the African continent in the palm of the hand.
Looking back, I still can't believe how it all came together and we ended up with a wonderfully fitting name and logo.
September 2018 - The workshop for izandla zethu is created and our first team is trained
Two months after our first workshop, we were already able to start implementing our first concept. On the one hand, it was about masifunde to set up the premises made available in such a way that our training program could take place there at a good technical level, comfortably and safely for the participants and on the other hand to provide tools and a training program. I was so moved by the commitment of the team, who really gave their all. And indeed, we finished just in time for the start of our first training session.
The art project by masifunde . . . As a "hands-on" activity, they gave our small building a new exterior paint job that fitted so perfectly with izandla zethu's idea. And of course our izandla zethu hand couldn't be missing.
With the first, very committed trainee team, we started to apply our training concept and were able to determine very quickly what worked and what didn't... what tools we still needed and what utensils were still missing.
In the first team, one of the participants, Luvuyo Pongolo, quickly developed into a real talent. He literally soaked up information about the craft, methods and sales - what a blessing. His enthusiasm for the project quickly led to the joint decision that he would take on the training of the future trainees.
Unfortunately, Luvuyo passed away far too early in April 2022 at the age of 35. Luvuyo will always be an inspiration to us and we hope his enthusiasm will inspire souls in another world.
The other participants will also remain in my heart with much joy. Those were very intensive weeks in which we grew close together.
Café Mymito - another social enterprise project by masifunde - I would also like to mention here that the professional team has kept us strong from the very beginning with delicious cappuccino and healthy, hearty and fine snacks
December 2018 - The first orders, We-Design and new perspectives
what for an intense time... we were so busy and our now well-established team tirelessly handcrafted and lovingly packaged pieces of jewelry. For our first orders and, among other things, to give them away to employees at the masifunde Christmas party - a great order that we were happy to work for.
As a little surprise and to intensify our sense of togetherness, I had team shirts made - also a small highlight. We also had small business cards printed with our new logo, which we could attach to all the packages.
masifunde had another surprise for us: we are allowed to move to other, slightly larger premises... and with a lot of anticipation, we were allowed to visit the building and the rooms so that we could think about how we would like to use them.
In order to get high-quality photos with which we can present our project and the resulting handmade jewelry, I have the photographer who lives in South Africa Khurshid Dustmunod, who agreed to a joint shoot.
April 2019 - New workshop, new people, new ideas
The time had come - full of enthusiasm, we were able to restore and set up our new / old workshop and design the outdoor area. There was so much rough and heavy, but also fine and difficult work that made our new workshop a new home for theizandla zethuteam.
But it was also time for a change, a farewell... We said goodbye to our first team, which forizandla zethu really pioneered. It was sad, but on the other hand we made our first important move. The trainee program gave the participants everything they needed for their next steps in life.
A springboard is meant for jumping off to break new ground and clearing it for those who follow.
These followers were our new three trainees. And how nice that our Phelelani was there as a trainee, who qualified as another potential trainer due to her talent, her motivation and her ambitions.
For me, it was particularly important to meet these trainees in person and to work with them a little on a sense of togetherness - how nice that we were able to do that this time too.
November 2019 - Marketing, Sales and Mentoring
We also used this stay in Gqeberha to work intensively. We have continued to improve the quality of our products and looked ahead together to plan how to proceed.
I then focused on marketing our handmade pieces of jewellery. Luvuyo and I have visited and promoted many stores and game reserves, that our collection - or parts of it can be exhibited and sold.
And as a very special highlight, we were able to visit some of our former trainees during their training at the PE College.
February 2020 - Most Bbeautiful object in South Africa
In February 2020, izandla zethu was announced as the winner of the “Most Beautiful Object in South Africa” at the Design Indaba Conference with the handmade DELICATE bangle.
What a special moment, what a surprising honor... It gave us a lot of renewed motivation to pursue our dream of helping young people realize the value their hands can create...
Corona unfortunately diverted our attention to other topics at this point in time and the trophy, as a symbol and reminder that we are doing something unique, special and precious, did not arrive in Walmer Township until a year later. Despite it We feel blessed with the attention that has followed this competition. It proves to us that social and ecological responsibility is important to many people.
Here an article in the design magazine twyg.
April 2022 - Our vision within reach:
Crafts Education Academy
Almost four years ago, we dreamed of setting up a training center where other manual and entrepreneurial skills would also be taught, thus offering interested young people a stepping stone into the world of work.
And thanks to the tireless efforts of the masifunde team, the time will soon come. The planning for the new education center is complete and we can hardly wait for masifunde to create new, additional training rooms and shops around our izandla zethu forge.
März 2022 - The next level for tools and knowledge
In the three weeks of my last visit in April 2022, we worked day and night. We have completely restored the workshop so that our three trainees and our trainer Phelelani have the best possible equipment in terms of workplaces and tools.
I had five new goldsmith tables made from old wooden pallets by Lubs' workshop in Walmer Township. In addition, a stable workbench on which forging and welding work can be carried out in the future. Together with our coordinator Fatima, we bought new, high-quality chairs on which you can sit ergonomically all day and work without getting tired.
We used the time during which we couldn't use our workshop due to renovation work - in the spirit of izandla zethu - to attend a ceramics course together...
In addition, we have designed a completely new jewelry collection in this short time, with which we want to expand our portfolio technically and reach even more potential customers. Our main goal is still to fully finance the training of our trainees with the proceeds from the sold pieces of jewelry. We want to develop from a non-profit project into a for-purpose project.
Oktober 2022 - Masisebenze - "let us work"
Another major milestone for izandla zethu has now been achieved. We have been part of a newly established organization since October: masisebenze ("Let's work") is now a conglomerate of several, first-class social enterprises with the aim of generating income for social projects in disadvantaged population groups, as well as training and employment opportunities for young people in provide South Africa. All profits generated from the social enterprises are donated to masifunde for the further development of the holistic education programs.
Juli 2023 - Masifunde Germany takes over the ETSY store and the jewelry logistics
With the reopening of the Masifunde Germany office in Berlin, we have handed over the processing of online sales of our handmade jewelery to the Masifunde team in Berlin. The entire logistics and processing is no longer with Michaela, but with the Masifunde team. We look forward to your inquiries and will share the link here and on Instagram as soon as the new shop is available.
In the izandla zethu workshop in Walmer Township, Gqeberha, three trainees learn the basics of goldsmithing in a five-month training course under the guidance of our trainer Phelelani. The training is intended to support in particular young people who cannot find a job after finishing high school or who have dropped out of the formal schooling system.
The participants not only learn to lovingly handcraft necklaces, earrings, bracelets and key rings out of very special materials, but also to deal with the importance of our upcycling concept. In Walmer Township, they collect raw materials and at the same time look for new and innovative ways to reuse materials.
We use corrugated iron as the central basic material, which the residents of South Africa's townships often use to build their huts. We shape and process the material, which basically symbolizes the poverty in these places, and transform it into beautiful pieces of jewellery. In addition, we work with recycled copper wires, colored cotton yarn and leather cords and have just started to process used brass as well.
Beyond sustainable upcycling, this project sends the message to the young participants to open their eyes to existing opportunities in their immediate environment, to perceive their own abilities and to use them creatively.
As part of the masifunde programme, the trainees - guided by youth workers and social workers - also create a tailor-made plan for their future after completing their training at izandla zethu..
The participants are sustainably prepared for their specific goals, such as further education, a new job or self-employment. At the same time, they can take part in skills development training courses to further develop their skills.
The youth at Izandla Zethu receive a monthly stipend during the training cycle and are able to cover their living expenses. After completing their education, several of our trained young people have either embarked on an entrepreneurial path, enrolled in college or found employment.
They also get the chance to become self-employed sales representatives for our handmade jewellery. Not only does this help generate income, but it also goes hand in hand with their training to develop entrepreneurial skills.
Participants can use this as a stepping stone to their own entrepreneurial journey and to start their own business.