Friends will be friends
T
even in the midst of a pandemic
he COVID-19 pandemic has left a trail of economic devastation and rising poverty levels throughout Africa. Industries linked to international tourism have been hit hardest, as international travel was the first casualty in the war against the virus, and will be the last industry to revive. In these desperate times, many are left financially stranded as each business sheds employees and cuts costs. After all, it’s nothing personal – it’s just business. For Karin le Roux, founding Director of the Omba Arts Trust, nothing could be further from the truth. Her three decades of dedication to helping rural Namibian women is extremely personal. As a social enterprise, Omba Arts is indeed a business that markets Namibian handmade products to local and international markets, but its heart beats for the women behind the art. Since Namibian independence in 1990, long before Omba Arts took its current form, Karin followed her passion for empowering women to the very ends of her vast country. As an art teacher who understands the design potential of local handicraft skills and cultures, she is uniquely qualified to provide a link between women with minimal or no formal education and the international traveller with an eye for high-quality, authentic crafts. Karin’s expertise is matched by a special concern for the marginalised San people, whose ancient traditional way of life has been overrun by modern day agriculture and commercial interests.
50
In 2019, the Finnish Embassy to Namibia honoured Karin with the Hän Award, alongside only one other African. This award acknowledges efforts to promote equality and inclusivity, especially among marginalised communities, around the world. While receiving such an award was a great honour for Karin, Omba Arts now faces perhaps its greatest ever challenge since inception – COVID-19. A staggering 90% of Omba’s income was wiped out when international tourism shut down in early 2020. Without a market, Omba Arts could no longer afford to buy crafts from the 400 artisans around the country, who in turn support about 2,000 family members. As Namibia locked down even domestic travel, “Omba Arts Trust went into hibernation,” Karin recalls, “But as the weeks turned to months, we realised we had to do something — to save Omba, support our artisans, and keep the supply chains going.” The pandemic has not hit the sparsely populated rural areas that Omba works with directly, but its economic consequences have been severe. As one of the San artisans exclaims, “I don’t even know the name of that disease that everyone is talking about that has turned our lives upside down!” After devoting so much of her life to women across the country, Karin could not simply give up and walk away. These artisans were not just suppliers, they are Omba’s friends with whom they have built mutual trust and relationships over many years. She knew that without the income from Omba they would be left with nothing. These artisans have become
