Just outside Johannesburg they found some land with an old building and were able to rent it. In 2001 the project began teaching women with little education how to sew. They set up a trust, taught some of the women to use bankcards and keep records, learning as they went.

The first skill they taught was embroidery which Sister Sheila had to learn first so she could teach the women. The reason they started with embroidery was because the materials were cheap. They meet three times each week, walking to get there (some 5 or 6 kms) and start the meetings with singing and dancing. When they gather around the tables there is a mixture of skills so the more experienced help new ones. Traditionally the work is done on black cloth with vibrant colours in the embroidery. Mostly the work is embroidery but some ladies do very intricate beadwork using traditional patterns.

60% of the profit goes to the women and 40% goes to running the trust. The trust has 49 permanent members, 20 training plus 12 Ndebele ladies who will take the skills back to their groups. In all 650 people are supported. The lives of many women have been transformed by teaching them a skill which allows them to earn money.

The second part of the project We love the children orphan care centre is a drop-in centre for kids up to 6 years who attend the centre daily and after-school care for older children. Day care children have breakfast when they arrive. After-school children line up for lunch and then play sport or learn art. Some of the children sent their art work to the Sydney Parliament House exhibition and to an exhibition at the Beijing Olympics. Because their diet is so bad an organic garden has been started and they feed 500 orphans daily.

Santa Sabina College takes a group of year 11 and 12 students there each year. They help in the kitchen and with other chores.

If you are interested in more information and photos go to www.pokanang.com.

The Trading Circle, 27 Lackey Street, Summer Hill sells their work.