Three decades of dignifying Namibian women

The year was 1992, Namibia’s independence was newly declared and there was a buzz in the air, the kind that is tangible when people are hopeful, inspired and excited. In the wake of this buzz came a partnership, almost serendipitously, between two hopeful, inspired and excited women named Christien Roos and Martha Muulyau. The two met while working at the old Ehafo project outside Windhoek that employed handicapped people. Their bond manifested in cofounding a women’s project which focussed on improving the lives and standard of living of disadvantaged women, their extended families and immediate environment. They called it Penduka, which means “Wake up.”

With delicious coffee and snacks made by the Penduka hospitality team, a diverse group of friends, partners, supporters and media gathered in their restaurant verandah, overlooking the Goreangab Dam in Windhoek’s Katutura suburb. We have been invited to celebrate this remarkable project which has been a trailblazer in Namibian craft development, women empowerment through education and a source of employment for three decades.

At present, Penduka employs 200 Namibian women. Before the pandemic, that number was more than double. Most of the women who sew and embroider, plus the crew that makes recycled glass beads, are hearing impaired. Each maker has a unique story, which Penduka prides itself in sharing. There is something truly special about knowing who made your handbag, tablecloth or jewellery, even more so knowing that this purchase is helping sustain a household.

The events of the celebration, which included a traditional Oshiwambo dance group and fashion show of Penduka’s newest products, focussed largely on highlighting the legacy Penduka has built over its 30 years. The project has expanded throughout northern Namibia, where women can work from home embroidering and sewing while honouring family commitments like looking after children or the elderly. In her address at the event, Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Hon. Verna Sinimbo, encouraged public support of Penduka. Be it by taking a stroll through the craft shop to buy a handmade gift, making use of the recreational facilities or choosing Penduka as a corporate social partner, this is the ideal opportunity to invest in women who take the initiative to help themselves, their communities and the tradition of craft.

You can support Penduka by visiting their website www.penduka.com and following their social media pages @penduka_namibia on Instagram and Penduka Trust on Facebook.

Charene Labuschagne