NEEMA CRAFTS

from JAHAZI issue 04 - Kilimanjaro Fast Ferries, AZAM Marine

ASILI FESTIVAL - A hip-hop celebration

The deaf and disabled artists of Neema Crafts have been creating beautiful bags, blankets, table lamps, furniture and kids’ toys at their workshop in Iringa since 2003. Now these unique, handcrafted products are available to shoppers in Dar es Salaam with the opening of the not-for-profit organisation’s new store, Neema Home, at the Slipway shopping centre.

The one-of-a-kind products that come out of the Neema Crafts workshop in Iringa are loved across Tanzania, but now it’s never been easier for people in the country’s biggest city, Dar es Salaam, to purchase latest additions to the range with the launch in July of the not-for-profit organisation’s new store, Neema Home, at the Slipway shopping centre in Msasani Bay.

One-of-a-kind crafts

Any purchase from Neema Home is something special. Each item will have been designed and hand-made by a deaf or disabled artisan at the Iringa centre with sustainable materials ingeniously sourced from the surrounding region. Its ceramics are made from a nearby deposit of high quality stoneware clay and its notebooks, cards and packaging are made from recycled paper and maize leaves and even – in some cases – elephant poo from Ruaha National Park (it is washed thoroughly before use).

**Neema Crafts artisans at work**
Images courtesy of Neema Crafts

The range of products also includes tailored children’s clothing and bags; screen printed cushions; woven scarves, beaded necklaces made from recycled glass and carved wooden candle holders and lamp bases.

Each product is a one-off, handmade from scratch to a design devised in-house. The talent of the artisans is evident in the quality of each item. Neema Crafts has given disabled people in Tanzania a rare opportunity to pursuetheir potential. It is an initiative that hash ad far-reaching effects, not just for the team members who have learned marketable skills they can support themselves with, but also in changing attitudes towards disability in the country. Most, if not all, of the artisans can recount times before they found Neema Crafts when they felt ostracised and vulnerable in society because of their condition. Now they have an income to support themselves and their family with Neema Crafts there to continue to help them towards independence with entrepreneurship. It offers training and grants for those who want to set up their own small businesses and a housing committee to help staff buy land and build their own homes.

Anyone buying products from Neema Home will be contributing to the life changing work the charity carries out.All profits are invested in the continued development of the project.

‘Great opportunity’

The arrival of Neema Home should provide plenty more funds with the footfall from the Slipway shopping centre – one of Dar’s prime retail spaces. Katy Ray, who is co-director ofNeema Crafts with her husband Ben, says: “We are really excited to be finally setting up shop in Dar. For years peoplehave been asking ‘when are you goingto have a shop here?’. It’s going to be a great opportunity to demonstrate the incredible talent of our artisans to a much wider audience.’

Sharing with Sifa Collective

The Neema Home store in Dar will also sell the similarly handmade and all-Tanzanian work of Sifa Collective.

Sifa Collective is a registered charity that trains young women in hand-stitching, fabric dying, screen-printing and design work on clothing. The students then use their skills to create wonderful batik pillows, headbands, wraps and kimonos as well as leather bags and purses all by hand.

As with Neema Crafts, all revenue from sales goes back into the project to ensure each student is equipped with the artisanal and entrepreneurial abilities to make her own living once the two-year course is completed.

For more information, visit sifacollective.com

SHOP NEEMA CRAFTS

Neema Home, Slipway, Masaki, Dar es Salaam.

Neema Crafts, Iringa – visit the workshop (tours available Monday to Friday), buy the handcrafted products, eat at the café, stay at the guesthouse (email: guesthouse@neemacrafts.com)

Shop online in Tanzania: neemahome.org

For more information, visit the website neemacrafts.com, email info@neemacrafts.com or go to @neemacrafts on Instagram

JULIAS’ STORY

Each individually created Neema Crafts product tells a story – one that the purchaser becomes a part of with their money helping to continue the work of the project. Each artisan also has their own moving and inspirational tale to tell. Here is just one.

Julias is a tailor in the Neema Crafts workshop and makes bags and cushions. He was three years old when he contracted polio, which meant he lost the use of his legs and was not able to get around. He was also the first-born child in the family so he didn’t have older siblings to help him.

He was not treated well by the children in his community and he stayed at home all day. His father started taking him to school when he was 14 years old but he passed away when Julias was 18. This meant he could no longer go to school as he had no means of transport and the school was too far to crawl to. He had only reached Standard Four and has had no education since.

At the age of 18 he started work at a local farm helping in the gardens. It was a means of income, but he still felt very isolated.

He worked there for 11 years before he came to Neema Crafts. He says: “I was on a 10-month tailoring course and when Neema called me to come and start work, I came immediately! Now I have an income and the difficulties in my life have decreased. I have learnt new skills and am able to use them outside of Neema as well.

“I now live with my wife and children in a new house built with support of the Neema Housing project, and I am happy that I can support and provide for them.”