Batsiranai Craft Project
| The Batsiranai Craft Project is an IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) member and cooperative of mothers with disabled children living in Dzivarasekwa township in Zimbabwe. The word Batsiranai translates from the Shona language to mean helping each other. Helping each other is just what this project is about the women work together to support each other emotionally and help their families economically through their artistry in handicrafts. These strong, hardworking women live under extremely challenging circumstances: most are lodgers, all use public transport or walk, some are widowed, some are single mothers, and many married women's husbands are unemployed. The HIV+ rate is greater than 25%, and the children require complex medical, emotional and educational interventions. Volunteer advisors assist with the project, but all proceeds go directly back to the cooperative. Batsiranai is a Fair Trade Organization registered through Rokpa Trust. Purchasing Batsiranai handicrafts is the way you can help support and empower these mothers and children. The women support themselves and their families by making a variety of handicrafts. Their artwork is vibrant. Each product is handmade and unique. Handmade embroideries become greeting cards, bags, purses, wall hangings, tee shirts, gift bags and table runners. Using recycled hand painted bottle caps the mothers make African scenes and animals in brilliant colors. This bottle cap art is used on greeting cards, earrings, brooches, and pendants. Recently the women created small soft dolls for toys in their daycare/physical therapy centre. The dolls were such a hit with the advisors and friends that Batsiranai decided to make these cuddly African dolls available to you. | |
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